Each person comes into this world to fulfill a purpose only they were intended to carry out.  While this last statement alone isn’t the only reason we are here, most people, in fact, spend a large portion of their lives pondering this.  Sometimes we don’t realize how important we are.  That’s right, I said who we are, not what we do.  While work is important, we are not our jobs.  What we do is important, but knowing when we should do something, and when it is time to do something else, is also significant.

        There were four different censuses taken in our parashah this week.  Each one was taken for a different purpose.  Our parashah also points out the importance of family.  Maybe these two ideas appear to have nothing in common; however, our passage clarifies and teaches so much about all I have written about so far.

        The first census was for counting Israelite men age twenty and up who are capable of taking up arms and being a part of the military, whose job was to protect all of the Israelites, the Mishkan, and everything included therein.  These men are grouped by tribe, and counted as members of the family of their tribe.  All men age twenty and up were counted this way, except for the tribe of Levi.  In this particular census, they were set aside by Adonai to serve Adonai as priests and teachers of the Torah.  Their “fight” was to ensure knowledge of Adonai was taught from generation to generation.  Serving Adonai well, properly, and leading and teaching others was/is of highest importance, and those chosen by Adonai for this task shouldn’t be distracted with mundane problems, but instead should put forth all of their efforts on spirituality and the spirituality of the Israelite people.

        There was a census for the Levite males age one month and up, each according to his father’s house, the sons of Levi, so as to represent each firstborn male Israelite in his being consecrated to Adonai.  These firstborn male Israelites themselves were /are to be consecrated to Adonai so we would always remember the firstborn male Egyptians who died.  They represent the idea the value of human life is to be prized above all but Adonai.  A practice continued today.

        Adonai took us out of bondage to people, took us out of Egypt, and taught us the only one we should serve is Adonai, and to recognize no one has the right to enslave another.  The census of the Levites by their houses, from the age of thirty to the age of fifty, was to assign responsibilities specifically regarding the building, carrying, breaking down, and utilizing of the Mishkan and all the services and maintenance pertaining to it.  Each family leader was named for us, along with their lineage. 

        This teaches us that all of the Israelites are a family, children of Israel or Jacob, and how we are all and each singularly important, and the importance of every role assigned in the Torah by G-d to every individual Israelite.  Even the assignment of the place each tribe should camp, guard, and travel in relation to the Mishkan comes to tell us we are separate, yet part of the whole, and we each have a purpose.  We must work together as a whole with Adonai always being the focus - the most important thing - and Adonai’s teachings should always be protected.  Also, each one of us must work together with our families to help each other with our purpose.

        We also come to learn, through our parashah, there are different things we are important for at different times in our lives.  It was pointed out in the beginning of our passage there is an exact time to be responsible for the multitude of things we are required to do, while at the same time we are told this particular piece of information was given to us in an inexact location, i.e. in the Sinai desert.  Remember each family of Levites - according to the names of Levi’s sons - not only were given different ministering responsibilities, but different physical responsibilities regarding the assembling, carrying, and breaking down of the Mishkan too.  Wherever the Israelites made camp, this was the proper place to stop and connect with Adonai.  This is one reason, a main one, why Judaism continues today.  Wherever we live, we need to be mindful of, connect with, and learn about G-d.

        By the way, if you are wondering, the other census was of all of the rest of the Israelite firstborn males so they could each be represented by the male Levites.

        It is through our human relationships that we serve Adonai, as well as our relationships with all G-d’s creatures, and flora and fauna.  No matter where we are, or what we do, we are each important to the whole of our families, and the whole of mankind.  It is only by working together, and supporting one another that G-d’s light can shine forth brightly on earth.

        Interestingly, the front of the Mishkan faced east, and the first families to lead the way were those assigned to the east.  The sun rises in the east.  The sun and its light represent so many things, but in relation to this portion, the creation itself, and in the creation of the Nation of Israel, first there was darkness - chaos and void - this was followed by order and light.  It is only after we have experienced the darkness, we can appreciate the light.  But we should always march forth towards the light, the light of G-d, learning, goodness, and order.  The light of truth and peace!

        Shabbat Shalom!  I’d love to know what you think!

Purpose