Dvar Torah Parashat Bamidbar / Shavuot

Dedicated Leilui Nishmat Abraham ben Simcha

By the Gammal Family

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Parashat Bamidbar / Shavuot

The Census

This week’s parasha, Bamidbar, begins the fourth book of the Chumash. In the second passuk, Hashem says to Moshe, “Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ households, by the number of the names, every male according to their headcount.”

It is no mystery why the book of Bamidbar is also called Sefer Hapekudim—The Book of Numbers. Rashi comments that Hashem counted the Jewish people many times in the Torah. Obviously, Hashem doesn’t demand a census because He doesn’t know how many Jews there are, chas veshalom. Rather, the act of counting is because of the incredible love Hashem has for us.

What does counting have to do with the love G-d has for us? What is so endearing about a census? Hashem counts Bnei Yisrael frequently, just as a man counts and recounts money that is precious to him. Last week, Parashat Bechukotai described the fearful curses and punishments which would befall Bnei Yisrael if they sinned. When they heard this, they worried Hashem might abandon His people forever if they transgressed. This census reassured them that Hashem has a great and everlasting love for Bnei Yisrael.

The Ramban says we should be inspired by knowing that G-d is counting the Jewish people. Realizing everyone is being thought about and appreciated should make us happy. The Kli Yakar says counting shows that Hashem watches over and cares about each Jew. But even though we are all individuals, we all stand for one thing — we all unite in serving Hashem. We represent the ideal of everything that is good, righteous, and holy. In a world that doesn’t care about or acknowledge Hashem, we commit ourselves firmly to the lofty goal of constantly bringing joy to our Maker and actualizing the purpose of our existence.

Megillat Ruth

Rabbi Biderman discusses that primary message of the Torah is emunah—faith. Another key message in the Torah is chessed. The Gemara states, "The Torah begins with gemillat chasadim—acts of kindess and ends with gemillat chasadim (Sotah 14). The Torah begins with "Hashem…made for Adam and his wife shirts of skin and He dressed them (Bereishit 3:21)," and concludes with "[Hashem] buried [Moshe]… (Devarim 34:6)."

The Vilna Gaon A”H writes that this teaches us that the focal point of the Torah is gemillat chasadim. The Midrash asks why was Megillat Ruth written if it doesn't discuss a single halacha (Ruth Rabba 2:14)?

Megillat Ruth was written to teach us the reward for those who do chessed. This can be one reason we read Ruth on Shavuot; The message of the Torah is gemillat chasadim, and we can see that in the luchot—tablets that were given on Shavuot. The first five of the Aseret HaDibrot—ten commandments are our mitzvot between a man and G-d. The remaining five are the mitzvot and obligations we have toward our fellow man.

There are far fewer words on the second half of the luchot. To keep the two luchot symmetrical the Mabit points out that the words on the second side of the tablets were written in larger letters than the first. Now, both luchot were covered with the same amount of writing. Large letters attract attention as if they are shouting. The mitzvot of ben adam lechaveiro—between a man and his fellow man draw more attention than the mitzvot ben adam lamakom—between a man and G-d, indicating that our obligations to our fellow man are even more critical than our obligations to Hashem. The Rosh writes Hashem desires more the mitzvot of helping your fellow man than the mitzvot that are solely for Hashem (Pei'ah 1:1)."

Everyone Has a Purpose

The passuk says Hashem commanded Moshe to count the Jews according to the “number of names (1:2).” Sforno says that this count was unlike any other national census. The count indeed kept track of how many Jews there were. However, as each Jew was counted, Hashem gave every name special consideration.

The Sefat Emet cites the Chiddushei Harim, who says that every person has a job in this world that only he can do. Every challenge and opportunity that one has in life is uniquely suited for him according to his strengths and weaknesses. Hashem explicitly hints at this when commanding Moshe Rabbenu to take the census. Every Jew should know that he matters, and his actions profoundly impact the world. Our purpose in this world is to try our best to keep the mitzvot and help our fellow man.

Shlomo Horwitz told an amazing story about a 17-year-old yeshivah student named Rafi who was eager and ready to do mitzvot and change the world. Rafi was on a bus in Yerushalayim and having an existential moment, wondering what his purpose in life was. The radio was playing, and the talk-show host interrupted the music to answer an urgent call into the radio station. A young boy called in crying and said, “I’m one of five children. My father died this year, and my mother can’t pay the electric bill. The electric company shut our power, and we’re freezing. We need 1,800 shekalim to have it turned back on.” The radio host got back on and left the number of the station for any donations.

Rafi heard this and immediately decided this was his purpose. He had a mission! He ran off the bus at the next stop, grabbed a pay phone, and called the radio station. He said, “I heard the broadcast, and I’ll raise the money. Tell the family now that everything’s going to be okay!” He opened his wallet, he only had 300 shekalim on him. He went into store after store to raise the money. He told the store owners, “There was something on the radio…” And the owners said, “Yes! We heard it! Are you that guy that’s going to be collecting?” Rafi said, “Yes, that’s me!” Everyone gave what they could. As soon as the money was raised the money, he promptly dropped it off at the station. The host looked at this young boy in awe and said, “Who are you!” Rafi only gave his first name and left.

Ten years later, Rafi was married with two children, struggling financially as an aspiring rabbi. He told his friend that the electric company had shut off his power because he had an outstanding bill of 3,800 shekalim. Another man overheard them chatting and said, “Wait one second. What’s the meter number on your bill?” Rafi happened to have the bill on him and showed the man. The man pulled out his cell phone, walked out, and came back in to tell Rafi it was all settled, and his power would be turned back on in a few hours. Rafi, shocked, asked, “Why would you do that? How?!” The man said, “It’s not me; it’s my aunt Shoshana. She always told me to call her if anyone ever can’t pay their electric bill.”

Rafi got home and called this lady “Aunt Shoshana” to thank her. Aunt Shoshana said, “Ten years ago, I had just lost my husband, and I was widowed with five kids and couldn’t pay my bill. Some angel out of nowhere raised the money in two hours for me!! What an amazing power of the Jewish people. I told myself that I would do the same for people struggling with their electric bills when my financial situation was better. I don’t know anything about the boy that helped me, just that his name was Rafi.” Rafi told her that he was the boy who helped her ten years ago. They both started to cry and wished each other heartfelt blessings because they recognized the beauty of Am Yisrael, who always look out for each other and are eager to be inspired to serve Hashem.

A Shared Shavuot

This coming up week is the yom tov of Shavuot. At the time of Matan Torah – the giving of the Torah, the passuk uses the language “vayeechan—and he camped” (singular) at the foot of the mountain (Shemot 19:2). Our Sages tell us that the singular usage of the word ‘vayeechan’ implies that they were united in purpose like one man with one heart.

It is such a mind-blowing concept, millions of Jews standing together to accept the Torah. Rabbi Frand shares a time when he received a new appreciation for “one man, one heart.” I was at the 1990 Siyum HaShaas in Madison Square Garden. 22,000 G-d fearing Jews gathered to celebrate the Torah learning. It was truly an amazing sight.

If one looked over the crowd, one could see such a beautiful diversity of people. I was sitting next to a Chassidishe fellow — round hat, Kappata, peyot, the works. Next to him was a fellow in a business suit, with a starched white shirt and a bow-tie. One looked around and saw Sephardim, Ashkenazim, Litvaks, Chassidim, Misnagdim. I saw people there that if I would have seen them on the street, I wouldn’t have even suspected they knew there was such a thing as “Daf Yomi.”

Unfortunately. there are so many things that we disagree about, but there is one common denominator. There is one thing that cuts across and transcends everything. That is Torah. It is the same Torah for me, for the Chassid, for the Sephardi, for the lawyer with the bowtie and the Rabbi with the long coat. It is Torah. The “like one man, with one heart” accomplished that. Four thousand years ago we were all there at Har Sinai, without divisiveness, without disputes, and without hatred, for one common goal — to receive the Torah. That event in history made it possible for 22,000 people to come together from different backgrounds, but with one thing in common — the study of Torah.

I ask, about how many things in life can we say it is going to be exactly the same 7 years from now? That is what Torah is all about. It is the bedrock of our life. Our nation is not a nation except through the Torah. Therefore, the Yom Tov of Shavuot is the most wonderful of all holidays. If not for this glorious day, where would we all be?

The Angels Protested to Hashem

Rabbi Mansour spoke about a Midrash that says that when Moshe Rabbenu went to Heaven to receive the Torah, the angels were so upset that they wanted to lynch Moshe. They didn’t want him taking the Torah to give to the Jewish Nation because they didn’t think humans were worthy. The Midrash says that as they were complaining to Hashem, Moshe’s face morphed into the face of Avraham Avinu. When the angels saw this, Hashem asked them, “Have you no shame? Didn’t Avraham wait on you and serve you? How can you complain like this?” At that point, the angels acquiesced, allowing the Torah to be released to Moshe for the Jewish people. Why did this answer satisfy the angels?

Rabbi Mansour explained this Midrash and said there are two types of tzaddikim. The first one is a tzaddik nistar—a hidden righteous person. But it’s not the hidden that we would assume. This person is someone who learns Torah and then goes about his day without sharing it. Then there is a tzaddik nigleh—a revealed righteous person. This person learns Torah, and then he has the strength to close the book and influence and elevate others.

It is written about Noach, “Ish tzaddik tamim.” He went out to the immoral people of his generation, attempting to help them do teshuvah. At a certain point he gave up because the challenge was too great, and he could not influence them to be better. Unfortunately, that is when he lost his title of “tamim.” Hashem later refers to him as a “tzaddik.” Judaism can only thrive and continue when our rabbis share the Torah they learn with the people. They must be temimim.

Shem lived at the time of Avraham Avinu. He was a great scholar and tzaddik. So why did Hashem pass him over and choose Avraham to lead his generation? The Rambam answers that it’s true that Shem lived at the same time as Avraham, and he too was a great tzaddik. But if one wanted to learn from Shem, he had to go find him to request his wisdom, whereas Avraham specifically went out and taught the people.

When Avraham was in his tent after his milah, he was conversing with Hashem, the highest level possible that a human can reach. But when he saw three men passing by out of the corner of his eye, he told Hashem he must attend to his guests instead of telling the men that he was busy. At every opportunity, Avraham sacrificed his own spiritual growth for the good of the people.

The Torah says that when Moshe came down from the mountain, he went “to the people.” Rashi says he left his “asakav—business” and went straight to B’nei Yisrael. What kind of “business?” Moshe just received the Torah straight from Hashem. He could have spiritually elevated himself more and studied in his tent, but he went directly to the people to give it over to them immediately.

Moshe’s face morphed into Avraham’s up on the mountain because they both sacrificed their own spiritual elevation to better influence the Jewish Nation! We only deserve the Torah because of this quality. Tzaddikim, like Avraham Avinu and Moshe Rabbenu, proved to the angels that humans can achieve greatness and be worthy of the Torah. We learn from this that we all have an obligation, not just to learn Torah, but to teach it over, to share the wealth, and elevate others!

May we always feel Hashem’s love and know that he is continuously counting us because we are precious to Him. May we find our individual purposes in life. May we go above and beyond to love our brothers and sisters, so we can leave a beautiful legacy. Amen!

Shabbat Shalom and Good Yom Tov!

Rabbi Amram Sananes as written by Jack Rahmey

Discussion Point:

Can you think of another purpose for the census?

Tell an inspiring story about an act of chessed that someone has done for you.

This book is a compilation of Divre Torah from the weekly parasha classes from Rabbi Sananes’ teachings over the last 10 years along with my own experiences in those classes which has stimulated my Torah growth. I’ve included many pertinent stories and life lessons to grow from at your Shabbat table. There’s also questions and discussion points at the end of each Parasha to stimulate a Torah conversation at your Shabbat table for the whole family to participate in. Also, included is a holidays section at the end of the book to use for all of our special holidays and Yomiim Toviim.



Now available in all Jewish bookstores and Amazon!

I and Rabbi Sananes look forward to hearing your feedback.

Sincerely, Jack E. Rahmey and Rabbi Amram Sananes

jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com (917-226-6276) and AmramSanases@me.com

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Le’ilui Nishmat…

Eliyahu Ben Rachel

Rabbi Shimon Chay Ben Yaasher

Avraham Ben Garaz

Sarah Bat Chanah

Esther Bat Sarah

Avraham Ben Mazal

Shulamit Bat Helaina

Rabbi Meyer Ben Chana

Rahamim Ben Mazal

Batsheva Bat Sarah Esther

Rafael Ben Miriam

Ovadia Ben Esther

Rav Haim Ben Rivka

Moshe Ben Mazal

Moshe Ben Yael

Yitzchak Ben Adele

Avraham Ben Mazal

Meir Ben Latifa

Chanah Bat Esther

Yaakov Ben Rachel

Malka Bat Garaz

Moshe Ben Garaz

Avraham Ben Kami

Yaakov Ben Leah

Mordechai Ben Rachel

Chacham Shaul Rachamim Ben Mazal

Natan Ben Rachel

Saadia Ben Miriam

Eliyah Ben Latifa Simhon

Margalit Bat Mazal

Ovadia Haim Ben Malaky

Rabbi Aharon Chaim Ben Ruchama

Luratte Bat Masouda

Esther Bat Menucha

Uri Ben Rahel

Rivka Bat Dona

Shalom Ben Zahra

Rachel Bat Sarah

Shalom Ben Zahra

Chava Yvette Bat Jamile

Refuah Shelemah…

Rachel Bat Devorah

Anyone interested in dedicating this Divre Torah Le'ilui Nishmat or Refuah Shelemah or In Honor of someone, can email me at

jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com. Checks can be made out to “A Life of Torah” for $101 and mailed to 2387 Ocean Ave Suite 1G, Brooklyn, NY 11229 (please put in the memo “Divre Torah”). Anyone interested in past parshiot please go to the website ParashaPerspective.org