בס”ד
Parashat Bamidbar This week’s reading is called “In the desert” and gives beginning to the fourth book of Torah, which is also called “Numbers”. In this book, God commands to count the Jewish people a number of times. What’s the meaning if this counting? Doesn’t God know the amount of people without it?
This week’s Torah reading is called Bamidbar, and it marks the beginning of the fourth book of the Torah, also called Bamidbar—which means “In the Desert.”
Interestingly, in English (and other languages like Spanish), the name of this fourth book is not Bamidbar but Numbers. Why Numbers? Because throughout this entire book—which primarily discusses the travels of the Jewish people through the desert and the many events that occurred during that time—there is a recurring theme of counting and numbers.
This week’s parasha (Torah portion) includes a census of the Jewish people. The following portion, Naso, also features various counts and numerical details relating to the people during their time in the desert. That’s why this book is known in English as Numbers.
Now, there’s a famous question regarding this topic:
Why does God command Moses and Aaron to count the Jewish people multiple times?
God knows everything—He doesn’t need a census to find out how many people there are. So, what’s the purpose of this?
One of the most profound answers comes from one of our greatest sages: Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, known as the Shlah HaKadosh. He lived in Prague and later moved to Israel, where he is buried in Tiberias. He authored a famous work called Shnei Luchot HaBrit (“The Two Tablets of the Covenant”), a fascinating blend of halachah (Jewish law), Kabbalah, and ethical teachings.
In his book, the Shlah explains this question by referencing a deep concept in Jewish law. The concept is expressed in Hebrew as:
“Davar sheyesh bo minyan, eino batel” – “An item that is counted is not nullified.”
What does that mean?
Imagine you have something permissible to eat that gets accidentally mixed with something forbidden. Can you now benefit from the mixture? It depends. In Jewish law, there are rules for nullification (bitul)—whether the forbidden part becomes insignificant compared to the majority and is therefore “nullified.”
However, there’s an important exception:
Something that is sold or recognized as a distinct unit—for example, items that are sold one-by-one, or counted individually—is not nullified, even if it is only one in a thousand. Its individual significance makes it stand out.
This legal concept might seem like it has nothing to do with our question—but the brilliance of the Shlah is how he applies this idea spiritually.
He says: God commanded the Jewish people to be counted in order to show that they are not “nullifiable.”
Each person is like a counted, distinct unit—important, irreplaceable, not to be lost within the masses.
God did not want the Jewish people to be swallowed up or nullified among the other nations. He wanted to show their value and uniqueness, and that’s why He had them counted—not for information, but for significance.
This wasn’t just relevant 3,000 years ago.
This is a message for all times and for everyone who connects with God’s message. Whether you are a Jew observing the 613 commandments, or a Noahide keeping the seven universal commandments, if you know this message—if you’ve been exposed to these divine truths—that means God has chosen you.
Of the billions of people who are unaware of these teachings, you were chosen to carry this message. That makes you significant, not just spiritually but functionally—you are meant to bring light to the world around you.
When a person knows their importance, their divine value, they are not nullified—even in environments where most people live by different values.
On the contrary: you will not be influenced—you will be the influencer.
That’s why this portion, and many others in Sefer Bamidbar, emphasize counting:
To remind you that if you are listening to this message, it’s because God is “counting” you—giving you value and the power to uplift and transform the world around you.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
The above is a representation of the spoken text converted to written text.
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