This is my first drash, and also my Bar Mitzvah drash. This week’s parsha is Bamidbar. Bamidbar means in the desert, as they were in the desert when Adonai told Moshe to take a census. A census is an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals.

Moshe counted the people, 20-60 years of age, all of Israel except for the Levites. The total count was 603,550, over half a million! The Levites were counted separately because they were the ones appointed to work in the Mishkan. Their responsibilities included singing and guarding the Mishkan. They would also take apart the Mishkan and carry it and the holy items place to place when traveling to Canaan. Aaron would have to cover the items before they could carry it or else they would die. The rest of the tribes would be protecting them. The people of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were to the east, Ruben, Simeon and Gad were to the south, Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin were to the west, and Dan, Asher and Naphtali were to the north.

During their travels they stayed together as a people, they had their troubles with each other, but they still stayed together. During these times we should stay with each other to comfort each other when we’re at our low points and laugh with each other at our high points. Even if it is six feet apart or digitally or even right beside each other we should be there. 

Shabbat Shalom.