bamidbar
parashat bamidbar, numbers chapters 1—4
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and thoughts…
Bamidbar
in the desert
Shakespeare asked, “what’s in a name?”
Bamidbar begins the fourth book of the Torah. In English, the book is called “Numbers.” But, the English translation of the word, Bamidbar is “In the Desert.” Why the discrepancy, and what’s the difference what we call it? What’s in a name?
We’ll circle back to that, but meanwhile, let’s look at the text.
The Parasha, and hence the book, begins with God instructing Moshe to take a census. Count the heads, is what it says.
Numbers.
Each person, regardless of financial standing, was required to contribute the small sum of half a shekel. Rich or poor, each person had equal value.
So, how did this work?
They could have lined up, each one stepping forward and dropping his coin in the basket and then moving on, an official counter ticking off the heads as they passed. They could have been seen as a random group, any one of them replaceable by any other.
But that’s not how it was done. As each person came before Moshe and Aharon to hand over their half-shekel, they introduced themselves to the two great and holy leaders of the Israelites. Each of them had a name. Each of them was an individual in his own right, had a unique destiny and a purpose for being in the world. Each of them had a right to be recognized for who they were.
Because human beings are more than a number.
We can each be counted, and each of us counts.
Ultimately, the individual people weren’t counted; it’s the coins that were counted.
And not everyone was counted. Far from it. The census was specifically for men between the ages of 20 and 60. Does this mean that women, the young, and the elderly were less important, less valuable? Absolutely not. The Israelites were about to embark on a military mission and the leaders needed to know how many soldiers they had to work with in order to plan strategies. That was the point of the census. We’re all valuable, but not for the same reasons.
After being recognized as individuals, the people were sorted by tribe and each tribe was given its place, both in where its members would camp in relation to the tabernacle, and in where in the formation they would walk when the people were journeying to their next destination. Each tribe had a group personality–special talents and also shortcomings—which they inherited from the specific son of Jacob from whom they were descended, and so they were organized according to who would be the best influence on whom, and who would be able to offer the most support to their particular neighbors. In our individuality, each of us is a member of a community and communities have a collective mission and destiny. Over the years, I’ve learned that my own growth and accomplishments are influenced by the people with whom I choose to surround myself. It’s an important choice and not one that should be left to happenstance.
“Who are you?” the caterpillar asked Alice, and Alice replied, “I hardly know, Sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.”
I think a little uncertainty from time to time can be a good thing. It forces us to take stock, to reconsider what we might have thought of as an obvious answer. And so, I’m asking myself, “who am I, right now, in this time?”
In ancient days, parents didn’t name their children according to what was trendy or what sounded pleasant to their ears. People were named according to their nature, or with the intention of what sort of person parents wanted their child to grow into, the sort of person they believed it was their child’s destiny to become. That’s why it’s not unusual in the Torah for a person to be called by different names at different times.
So, we’ve found the answer to The Bard’s question. Both names are appropriate for our parasha. To know who you really are, to see your path, you need to journey into the desert. Metaphorically, that is. What I mean is that you need to put yourself into an environment, both physically and mentally, where there are no distractions. We won’t hear that still small voice in an amusement park or on the floor of the stock exchange.
With the reading of Bamidbar, it’s a good time for me to take a census of myself, to see who I’ve become through the events of the past year, and to consider where I’m going—what is my purpose, my destiny, my place in my community, and who will I be going forward? It’s important for me to remember that I can be who I choose to be and that my identity isn’t enslaved to who I was yesterday. Perhaps I should take on a new name to add to the names I already have.
Because at the end of the day, I will be counted. It’s up to me whether or not I will count.
I think a little uncertainty from time to time can be a good thing. It forces us to take stock, to reconsider what we might have thought of as an obvious answer. And so, I’m asking myself, “who am I, right now, in this time?”
In ancient days, parents didn’t name their children according to what was trendy or what sounded pleasant to their ears. People were named according to their nature, or with the intention of what sort of person parents wanted their child to grow into. That’s why it’s not unusual in the Torah for a person to be called by different names at different times.
With the reading of Bamidbar, it’s a good time for me to take a census of myself, to see who I’ve become through the events of the past year, and to consider where I’m going—what is my purpose, my destiny, my place in my community, and who will I be going forward? It’s important for me to remember that I can be who I choose to be and that my identity isn’t enslaved to who I was yesterday.
Because at the end of the day, I will be counted and it’s up to me whether or not I will count.
So, what shall we eat?
I’m thinking…We’ll start with half shekel soup. Tender rounds of carrot “coins” add texture and fun to a creamy puréed soup of carrots laced with a touch of Thai curry and ginger (It’s not spicy unless you want it to be) and enriched with a splash of coconut milk. You can turn this course into a counting game if you like, by having children count the coins in their bowl—I’d make sure that they all get the same amount to avoid stirring up conflict! Perhaps there could be an extra dessert prize for everyone who eats all of their coins…
For a salad course I’m going to take the concept of Laotian summer rolls—basically a salad, usually with shrimp, pork, or small cubes of marinated tofu—that are eaten in hand and dipped into a peanut sauce with a splash of soy—and instead fill them with fresh spinach, green herbs, Israeli salad, and a choice of shredded Moroccan chicken or tofu with Moroccan spices. Rolling them up in the rice paper is actually easy and fun, and it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to accomplish. Instead of the peanut sauce, we’ll make a green tahini dipping sauce. These summer rolls make a nice presentation—they make the meal feel special and they’re fun to eat.
Since we’re counting heads, let’s go with the most spectacular head I know. Roasted Cauliflower Supreme—a whole roasted head of cauliflower with two sauces. If you think cauliflower is bland and boring, think again!
Let’s celebrate the desert. For the sand, we’ll use Moroccan couscous. I’m going to use the super fast stuff that comes in a box. Purists will scoff, but it turns out flavorful and fluffy and it doesn’t take hours to make. If you want to be authentic and hand roll your couscous, go for it! You will have my respect. I’m naming this dish Twelve Tribes Couscous, for the twelve tasty additions to this couscous pilaf.
Now, from desert to dessert. I love the texture of large pearl tapioca. I don’t think anyone is going to want to count the heads suspended in the vanilla laced pudding, but I know that everyone at my table is going to want to eat it. You can make it with dairy milk or with coconut milk. Both are delicious. Topped with some whipped cream, either dairy or made from coconut cream, and finished with tropical fruits, it’s a very special treat.
When I serve puddings or custards for dessert, I like to add something with a crunch on the side as a textural counterpoint. I’m going to add some store-bought pirouette cookies, stuck artfully into the individual puddings to look like straws. So let’s get started!