In this week’s Torah portion God tells the Israelites to take a census. Only God can command that a counting of the people be taken. The ancients felt if they were counted without God’s permission they could open themselves up to being harmed. Bad omens and spirits would be aware of them and hurt them. With God’s protection they felt they could be counted. A census occurs a number of times in the Torah. It is important to be counted. We at Temple Shirat Shalom want to know who you are, we want you to be counted on and we want you to count on us as well.
In another part of this week’s Torah portion God finds the craftsmen to make the ritual objects of the Israelites. The main artisan is Beztalel, he is a young man of great artistic abilities. God says of him that he is singled out and is endowed with the Divine Spirit of skill, ability and knowledge in every kind of craft. In this Torah portion we are told that artistic abilities is God given and is a great gift. Adding beauty to our ritual objects and to our rituals is a mitzvah, a commandment. Whenever we do anything or make anything in God’s name we must make every effort to make it as beautiful and perfect as possible. That is why when I teach our children or adults I make everyone strive for “perfection.” We must always make our work in the name of Judaism and God as good as we can make it.
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