Starting with the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites organized themselves as an army, as it says, ?On that very day, the L-rd took the Israelites out of Egypt by their hosts.? (Exodus 12:51) and, ?The Israelites went up armed out of the Land of Egypt.? (ibid. 13:18. See Rashi) Likewise, when a census was taken of Israel via the half shekels, it says, ?Every man over twenty years old shall be included in this census and give this offering to the L-rd,? (ibid. 30:14) on which Rashi comments, ?This teaches that no one under twenty was drafted into the army or counted amongst the adults.?
Regarding the census itself, in Numbers we find, ?Take a tally of them by their military divisions, counting every male over twenty years old who is fit for service,? (Numbers 1:3) as well as, ?When the Israelites camp, each individual shall be in his own camp, each one designated by the banner for his military division.? (Numbers 1:52)
Ramban (Numbers 1:45) explains why the Israelites were described and counted in military terms: ?They were now ready to enter the Land and to wage war.? Moses and the tribal princes needed to know the number of warriors available?. The Torah could not rely on the miracle of one chasing down a thousand of the enemy. This explains the military references.?
Today, the Jewish People are continuing in their long war, going on since the Exodus, to survive and take hold of Eretz Yisrael, against cruel enemies who have never resigned themselves to Israel?s survival and rebirth in their land. As then, now as well, we have an army, the Israel Defense Forces, which is the army of G-d, standing ready to defend the People and the State of Israel. With G-d?s help, just as we have been victorious in the past against those rising up to destroy us, so too will we be victorious in the future against all our enemies. After all, G-d has already promised us, by means of all of the prophets and sages, that ?the Eternal One of Israel will not lie.? (I Samuel 15:29)
Through us will be fulfilled the song of Moses and Israel at the Sea of Reeds: ?Nations heard and shuddered; Terror gripped those who dwell in Philistia. Edom?s chiefs then panicked. Moab?s heroes were seized with trembling. Canaan?s residents melted away. Fear and dread fell upon them. At the greatness of Your arm they were still as stone, until Your people crossed, O L-rd, until the people You delivered crossed over.? (Exodus 15:14-16)
--------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UbeEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il/.
--------------------------------------------------------
Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.
Regarding the census itself, in Numbers we find, ?Take a tally of them by their military divisions, counting every male over twenty years old who is fit for service,? (Numbers 1:3) as well as, ?When the Israelites camp, each individual shall be in his own camp, each one designated by the banner for his military division.? (Numbers 1:52)
Ramban (Numbers 1:45) explains why the Israelites were described and counted in military terms: ?They were now ready to enter the Land and to wage war.? Moses and the tribal princes needed to know the number of warriors available?. The Torah could not rely on the miracle of one chasing down a thousand of the enemy. This explains the military references.?
Today, the Jewish People are continuing in their long war, going on since the Exodus, to survive and take hold of Eretz Yisrael, against cruel enemies who have never resigned themselves to Israel?s survival and rebirth in their land. As then, now as well, we have an army, the Israel Defense Forces, which is the army of G-d, standing ready to defend the People and the State of Israel. With G-d?s help, just as we have been victorious in the past against those rising up to destroy us, so too will we be victorious in the future against all our enemies. After all, G-d has already promised us, by means of all of the prophets and sages, that ?the Eternal One of Israel will not lie.? (I Samuel 15:29)
Through us will be fulfilled the song of Moses and Israel at the Sea of Reeds: ?Nations heard and shuddered; Terror gripped those who dwell in Philistia. Edom?s chiefs then panicked. Moab?s heroes were seized with trembling. Canaan?s residents melted away. Fear and dread fell upon them. At the greatness of Your arm they were still as stone, until Your people crossed, O L-rd, until the people You delivered crossed over.? (Exodus 15:14-16)
--------------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UbeEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il/.
--------------------------------------------------------
Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.