Parshat Bamidbar

Parshat Bamidbar discusses life in the desert for the Jewish people. This fourth book of the Torah is also referred to as חומש הפקודים, the book of numbers.

In this Parsha, we have a census of the males between the ages of twenty and sixty. The initial total was 603,550 which decreased a bit after various sins and punishments.

The Levites (Netanyahu announced last night at Mercaz Harav that he is a Levi) were counted separately according to their three families of Gershon, Kehat, and Merari. The של״ה הקודש pointed out that the Kohanim were counted together with the Kehat family. The connection was that both the Kohanim and Kehat were chosen to carry the Holy Ark in the desert.

This explains more clearly why Korach felt that the Priesthood should be shared. He was more closely related to Moshe and Aharon than the other families of Levi.

There is a great deal of symbolism to the struggles of our ancestors in the desert. We are to learn from their mistakes and realize that staying close to Hashem and putting our absolute trust in Him, is the path towards happiness and success. Shabbat Shalom.

Yesterday was 44 with ספירת העומר