| 1. The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month, in the second year after the exodus from the land of Egypt, saying. | | א. וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָֹה אֶל משֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית לְצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר: |
| 2. Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by families following their fathers' houses; a head count of every male according to the number of their names. | | ב. שְׂאוּ אֶת רֹאשׁ כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת כָּל זָכָר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם: |
| 3. From twenty years old and upwards, all who are fit to go out to the army in Israel, you shall count them by their legions you and Aaron. | | ג. מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כָּל יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל תִּפְקְדוּ אֹתָם לְצִבְאֹתָם אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן: |
| 4. With you there shall be a man from each tribe, one who is head of his father's house. | | ד. וְאִתְּכֶם יִהְיוּ אִישׁ אִישׁ לַמַּטֶּה אִישׁ רֹאשׁ לְבֵית אֲבֹתָיו הוּא: |
| 5. These are the names of the men who shall stand with you; for Reuben, Elitzur the son of Shedeur. | | ה. וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר יַעַמְדוּ אִתְּכֶם לִרְאוּבֵן אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן שְׁדֵיאוּר: |
| 6. For Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. | | ו. לְשִׁמְעוֹן שְׁלֻמִיאֵל בֶּן צוּרִישַׁדָּי: |
| 7. For Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab. | | ז. לִיהוּדָה נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב: |
| 8. For Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zu'ar. | | ח. לְיִשָּׂשכָר נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן צוּעָר: |
| 9. For Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon. | | ט. לִזְבוּלֻן אֱלִיאָב בֶּן חֵלֹן: |
| 10. For the children of Joseph: for Ephraim, Elishama' the son of 'Ammihud; for Manasseh, Gamliel the son of Pedazur. | | י. לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף לְאֶפְרַיִם אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן עַמִּיהוּד לִמְנַשֶּׁה גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן פְּדָהצוּר: |
| 11. For Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni. | | יא. לְבִנְיָמִן אֲבִידָן בֶּן גִּדְעֹנִי: |
| 12. For Dan, Ahi'ezer the son of 'Ammishaddai. | | יב. לְדָן אֲחִיעֶזֶר בֶּן עַמִּישַׁדָּי: |
| 13. For Asher, Pag'iel the son of 'Ochran. | | יג. לְאָשֵׁר פַּגְעִיאֵל בֶּן עָכְרָן: |
| 14. For Gad, Eliasaph the son of De'uel. | | יד. לְגָד אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן דְּעוּאֵל: |
| 15. For Naphtali, Ahira' the son of 'Enan. | | טו. לְנַפְתָּלִי אֲחִירַע בֶּן עֵינָן: |
I am answering question number 4, cccording to Rebbe Nachman’s Torah (Numbers, p. 22, "The Israelite encampment"), what does the people camped around the Torah symbolize? What is each Jew equivalent to? Why do we read this at this time of year?
ReplyDeleteEach Jew symbolizes a letter in the Torah. The Torah is not complete without all the letters. We read about the unity of the Jewish people before we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, the holiday of getting the Torah.
Leora, Danielle, Giselle, and Rebecca
First of all according isn't spelled cccording. Second, we like we you said and we agree with you that every letter in the torah matters just like every person matters even if we don't know why.
DeleteAri and Micah
Mia, Maya, & Zach
ReplyDeleteWe started with question number 1. Rashi says that God counted the Israelites frequently because "they were dear to him". He also counted them so he could know the number of the survivors. Moses counts the people so that they can go to the army. God counts them because he loves them, but Moses counts them so he can use them in the army.
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DeleteGod loves them like a grandfather, and Moses is always really mad at them. By David, Noah, Teddy and Ben.
DeleteIs Moses mad at them or is he doing what is necessary by making an army?
DeleteGod counts the Israelites on Month 2 Day 1 on year 2 after leaving Egypt. God counts over and over according to Rashi because God and the Israelites must track their progress and population. The people need to see if they're growing or shrinking and to count farmers, soldiers, elders, judges, and children. Moses counted them to see how many men over 20 in each tribe to know the men who can be called to arms when needed for war and defense. These reasons contradict because God wants to love and see the people's population for life while Moshe wants to know the soldiers able to draft for war. I think that Moshe has to deal with logistics in this time in the desert before arriving in Israel while they wander for the next 38 years. God must nurture and strengthen and organize Israel before arriving in the land.
ReplyDeleteBy ben, teddy, david, and noah
DeleteI think God isn't keeping track of how many Israelis there are because He already knows that they are going to multiply anyway, but that he's seeing how many children he has.
DeleteMia, Maya, & Zac
ReplyDeleteWe did the second question next. The hebrew word "midbar" means "wilderness", not "desert". Numbers refers to the counting or census. We think that Numbers is a better name because the book talks about counting the people and the numbers of people.
We are answering number 1: According to Rashi’s comment on verse 1, when does God count the Israelites, and why does God count them over and over? Compare this to verse 3: what was Moses’ reason for counting the Israelites? Do these reasons go together? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteIn verse one, it says that God counts the Isralites for many times. God does this for many different reasons. The first reason God counts them is because the Isralites are dear to God. Then the second reason Rashi states that God counts them is when they left Egypt. The following time God counted them was when people would die. For example, when the Isralites did the sin of the Golden Calf, God counted them to see how many survivors were left. Lastly, Rashi says that on the first of Nissan and the first of Iyar God counted them. We think that the main reason God counts them so many times is because God cares and loves them.
In verse three, it says that Moshe counts the Isralites because he needs people for the army. God's reasons and Moshe's reasons for counting the Isralites do not go together. God counts the Isralites because he loves them and Moshe counts them because he needs people for the army.
Danielle, Leora, Giselle, and Rebecca
I am answering question one.
ReplyDeleteGod is counting the Israelis because He loves them.
This is important because B'nei needs to know that God loves them so they keep their faith.
DeleteBut it's also that Moshe is always disappointed at them, so they need to know someone loves them. Also, God sees the Israelis as his grandchildren.
Delete"I am answering question one.
DeleteGod is counting the Israelis because He loves them."
That's kind of a short answer, Jules. Is there any other reason why God is counting the Israelis?
Because God sees the Jews as his grandchildren. He loves all of them. Isn't that why he made us in HIS image?
DeleteWe are answering question number 2, in the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 769, bottom commentary), what are the different names (Hebrew and English) given to this book, and what do they signify? What is the reason behind each name? Which name, in your opinion, is better, and why?
ReplyDeleteThe book is called "Numbers" in english, "The Book of the Census" in Sefer Ha-P'kudim, B'midbar in hebrew meaning (In the Wilderness). It is called Numbers and The Book of the Census because of the census at the beginning of the book. It is called B'Midbar because it is considered the first significant word in the book, and it describes a people wandering through a spiritual as well as geographic wilderness.
We think that B'Midbar is the best name because it explains the situation B'nei Yisrael is in at the beginning of the book. It sets the setting.
Leora, Danielle, Rebecca, and Giselle
Micah and I chose to focus on why God repeatedly counted the Israelites. Rashi says this happens because the Israelites are dear to him. God chose Bnei Yisrael as his people so it would make sense that he wanted an accurate count of them. Moses claimed it was for army reasons, and that makes more sense to us. Even today there is trouble getting people into the Israeli army, that is why they made the army mandatory. There is a connection between biblical and modern times: Getting people to fight was tough, so they needed to make it mandatory. That is why it would make sense that Moshe was counting them for army reasons.
ReplyDeleteHaving many people is important in an army. People are needed primarily to fight. However, armies also need people to train other troops and scout out enemy territory. People also need to be working on battle techniques and weapons.
With all this in mind, we disagree with Rashi and agree with Moses.
Ari and Micah
I think God counting B'nei Yisrael and Moshe counting B'nei served two separate purposes.
DeleteThe names of the 4th book of the torah is Bamidbar in Hebrew and Numbers in English. Numbers signifies counting the Israelites and Tribes and sacrifices which relate to mathematics. Bamidbar signifies being in the wilderness and surviving with God's nutruring and powers as an independant nation. I think Bamidbar is better because that name shows the general outline of the Israelites situation. By benbi, tedbi, noey, and talmid.
ReplyDeleteaccording to what I can tell from Rashi, It's because God loves them. Much like a grandmother/father loves their grandchildren. In a way he's simply counting his lovely grandchildren. Moses is counting them to know who is ready for war. These reasons simply do not go together. One is to see how many children he has, th eother is trying to find how many soldiers. Two hugely different things
ReplyDeleteand both are important.
DeleteAccording to Rashi, God is counting them because God loves them. Moses is counting them because he needs to know who he can send out to fight. I think that these to reasons contradict because God counts them because of love, but Moses counts them because of violence and because they need to fight.
ReplyDeleteFrom Giselle, Rebecca, Leora and Danielle:
ReplyDeleteQuestion #3:
The reasons that Ramban gives for the census is to prove the miracle of Israel's survival and to count the Jews in spite of Pharaoh and what we've been through.
Mencachem Nahum of Chernoby said: it was to be proud of who their ancestors were and hole their heads high.
The midrash compares God to a person who had a store of precious jewels. He would take them out and count them from time to time to take pleasure in their beauty.
Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev says that the 603,550 Israelites were symbolic to a tradition that there are 603,550 letters in the Torah. Also, just like in the Torah, if one letter is missing it renders the Torah scroll unfit for use. The loss of one Jew, prevents Bnei Yisrael from their divine mission.
We think that the census is important because we can't forget the individuals who make up the nation.
Question two: I think that the name wilderness is better than numbers because if someone shows you the book of Badmidbar the first thing that comes to your mind most likely will be the Israelites wandering in the desert and not the census that takes place in this book of the Torah.
ReplyDeleteLili Yosef Gavy
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1:
According to Rashi’s comment on verse 1, when does God count the Israelites, and why does God count them over and over? Compare this to verse 3: what was Moses’ reason for counting the Israelites? Do these reasons go together? Why or why not?
God counts the Israelites Because they were dear to Him, He counted them often. When they left Egypt, He counted them (Exod. 12:37); when [many] fell because [of the sin] of the golden calf, He counted them to know the number of the survivors (Exod. 32:28) Moshe counts to see how many can fight. These reasons are not alike because God is concerned for the people's well being and Moses cares about war
Question 2
In the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 769, bottom commentary), what are the different names (Hebrew and English) given to this book, and what do they signify? What is the reason behind each name? Which name, in your opinion, is better, and why?
Numbers -One is about numbers
Seifer Ha-P'kudim- About P'kudim
Bemidbar
Both are about counting. We like numbers because its more simple
Question 3
In the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 770, bottom commentary, "Take a census"), what are the reasons Menachem Nahum of Chernobyl, Ramban, and Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev give for the census? What do you think of each reason?
Menachem Nahum of Chernobyl = Let the Israelites hold their heads high in pride as they contemplate who their ancestors were
Rambam=Testifies to the miracle of Israel's survival
Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev= Connects to the final total of Israelites to a tradition that their are letters in the torah
Question 4
According to Rebbe Nachman’s Torah (Numbers, p. 22, "The Israelite encampment"), what does the people camped around the Torah symbolize? What is each Jew equivalent to? Why do we read this at this time of year?
The people around the camp symbolize sparks of holiness. Each jew is equivalent to a letter in the torah.
I am answering number 2
ReplyDeleteIn the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 769, bottom commentary), what are the different names (Hebrew and English) given to this book, and what do they signify? What is the reason behind each name? Which name, in your opinion, is better, and why?
The english translation of B'midbar is Numbers and the Hebrew translation is In The Desert. I think "In the desert" is a better name because the name "in the desert" in a way sums up the whole book better than numbers.
Manachem took a census because it was like a roll call to life their heads with pride. Ramban took a census to show that they survived through everything. Rabbi Levi took a census because each person is important like a part of the Torah and if one is missing then the Israelites are not full and complete. We think these are good reasons to take a census.
ReplyDeleteMia, Maya, & Zach
Question three: Why does it say to take a head count and count the people?
ReplyDeleteRabbi Menahem Nahum says they wanted to count each person in order for them to hold their heads high in pride. Ramban says that counting the people shows the miracle of their survival. Levi Yitzhak says that you need to count the people because each Jew is a letter of the Torah that needs to be there. Personally, I like the first reason the best, because it shows their pride of being free and it shows how they would like to express it as well.
According to Menachem Nahum of Chernobyl, Ramban, and Levi Yitzchak in the Etz Hayim Chumash, what is the reasoning and description of the census for able men? Menachem Nahum explains that it means lift your heads or be proud of your ancestral tribe based on the populations and traits. This situation can be compared to a jeweller who counts his jewels to make sure they're their but mostly to take pleasure in his riches. God wants to take pleasure in the number of able men that are there in each tribe. Rambam thinks that its to show that even when Amalek, the Egyptians, and the desert conditions, and later fighting into Israel and the exiles have defeated us, we are not dead. Levi Yitzhak says that there are 603,550 Israelites in total compared with 603,550 letters in the torah so as losing one letter makes the torah unfit, losing one man makes the nation unfit. I love the jeweller analogy but my idea is that the people have only opinions about their current status and want numbers because they are objective and will give the Israelites a better prediction of their divine mission. By ben, dave, ted, and no
ReplyDeleteQuestion #3
ReplyDeleteIn the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 770, bottom commentary, "Take a census"), what are the reasons Menachem Nahum of Chernobyl, Ramban, and Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev give for the census? What do you think of each reason?
Nahum says that it was to help them get a sense of pride. Ramban says that is to show them that they can survive anything. Levi Y says they that every Jew is a letter of the Torah, and that everyone is needed. I think all the reasons are very creative and I like them all. But my favorite is Ramban.
Question #4
ReplyDeleteAccording to Rebbe Nachman’s Torah (Numbers, p. 22, "The Israelite encampment"), what does the people camped around the Torah symbolize? What is each Jew equivalent to? Why do we read this at this time of year?
It's like people around the ark. And every jew is a letter. We are reading this now because Shavuot is coming up
Question 4: The people camped around the Torah symbolize them surrounding the ark. Each Jew is a letter in the Torah, and the Torah is not complete until the Jews are combined. We read it at this time of year because Shavuot is coming up and that's the holiday when we receive the Torah from Sinai.
ReplyDeleteCommentator: Micah Kanter and Ari KC
ReplyDeleteQuestion: According to Rebbe Nachman’s Torah (Numbers, p. 22, "The Israelite encampment"), what does the people camped around the Torah symbolize? What is each Jew equivalent to? Why do we read this at this time of year?
Answer: Each Jew represents a letter in the Torah. Only when the Jews are together is the together is the Torah complete. That is why the Jews are strongest when we are together. However, once we make groups within our selves are we different. That is why we read the Torah before Shavout, when we read the torah.