If you’ve ever been at a traditional prayer service where the making of a minyan was touch-and-go, you might have witnessed a lay leader pointing a finger at the attendees and “not counting” them: “Not one, not two, not three…” In this way, even in a moment when they really needed to know how many people were in the room, they were nodding to an age-old Jewish tradition not to count.
Where does this tradition come from? The Talmud suggests that blessings do not come from things that have been weighed or measured. Jewish superstitions have further held that counting a person invites divine judgment, and each of us might come up short on our individual merit. For this reason, we atone as a community. However, the tradition of not counting people might be traced to last week’s Torah portion, Ki Tissa, which begins when the people are commanded to count the Israelites. The portion is not the finest chapter in the Jewish story – by the end, the people have begun worshipping the golden calf.
In this week’s portion, on the other hand, the Israelites are at their best. They bring gifts, moved by their hearts. Members of the community step forward with their unique talents and skills to build the Mishkan, a space for God’s presence to dwell among them. Perhaps the difference is that while last week they were commanded, Tissa et rosh, to “raise up the head” of each person individually, this week they are urged Vayak’heil, to “gather” the people into community.
When we count, we single people out for inclusion or exclusion. When we gather, we bring everyone closer together.
In the last few months, our society has faced many challenges, and with them, many have felt isolation, division, and fear. Some have even been afraid of gathering, and of being counted, in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the same time, I have been encouraged by increased numbers of people attending many of our services. I feel sure this reflects a desire to come together.
As we wrestle with the future of our community and world, it’s worth asking ourselves: Are we engaging in the work of Tissa or Vayak’heil? Are we counting, or gathering? Are we seeking to discern who does and does not belong, or are we embracing every member of our community, valuing their contribution, and listening to the ways their hearts move them?
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jeff Saxe
