Bamidbar 5771

Together or Apart:

My Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi David in his sefer Derosh Dorash Yosef quotes the Rav saying that there is two types of counting that someone can do. One way is to count a group of objects, for example, a box of a thousand rubber bands. Another way that one can count is to consider each individual item in it's importance, for example, examining a diamond.

He goes on to say that the first time bnei yisrael was counted was they were counted as large groups, but in this count they were counted by "rosh libeit avotam" (by the heads of their household), meaning each as individuals.

There is two ways one can look at himself. One way is for a person to see himself in a group, he must do what is necessary for the whole at large and not just himself. The other way a person can see himself is as an individual with his own importance. He, alone, is precious without anyone else.

A certain great rabbi used to have a piece of paper in each pocket, one which read "bishvili nivra haolam" (the world was created for me), the other paper said "ani afar viaifer" (I am dist and ash).

The main thing in life is to balance these two points. One cannot live completely for the klal or he will lose his individuality. At the same time one cannot be completely for himself because "If I am only for me, what am I?"

May we all be zoche to learn how to balance between being part of a klal and being an individual.

Have a great Shabbat!