May 30th 2008, 00:00

In this week's Torah reading cycle we begin the fourth book of
the Torah, Numbers. It is called that because the first few verses tell of
a census that was taken of the Israelites. Much like today where public
policy is based on numbers calculated by the census that is taken every 10
years, Moses needed to know how many fighting men he had available should
they be necessary to wage war.

To gain a better understanding, you have to know that the Hebrew
name for the Book of Numbers, "b'midbar," actually means "in the
wilderness." For our sages, the place became a very powerful metaphor.
First, they point out that the Torah itself was given in a barren wasteland,
not in a city, or even in the Land of Israel. This was to emphasize the
universal nature and message of the Torah. The teachings are there for all
people who are lost and searching.

Throughout our lives we sometimes feel as though we are lost in
the wilderness. Thus the story of the Israelites can be a source of
inspiration. The wandering did not last forever. There was the proverbial
light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case, a Promised Land at the end
of the journey.

Carrying the notion of numbers and wilderness into contemporary
Jewish life, it is unfortunate that many Jews desire not to be counted as
part of the Jewish community. For some, there is a self-imposed exile, a
never-ending wandering, and continual sense of being lost in the wilderness.
So many Jews today separate themselves from their heritage, from their
traditions, from their history, and from their people. That they do this on
their own, willingly and purposefully, makes the realities which we face
that much sadder.

Centuries ago, our rabbis taught, "do not separate yourself from
the community." They recognized the essential message of this week's
parasha, that each and every Jew must be counted and that it is okay to
wander around in the wilderness for some time, but sooner or later, it is
time to enter the Promised Land, and to come home. I only hope that this
lesson should be learned and heeded by more and more in our own community.

Tonight and tomorrow, Shabbat services and Torah Study as usual.
On Sunday, I hope you will join me at the annual Orange County Jewish
Festival at the JCC in Irvine. Make sure you stop by the TBT booth and say
hi to our board members, Miriam, and myself who will each spend some time
representing our congregation to the larger community. Our children will
also be singing on the main stage around 1:40 PM, so don't miss that either.
Have a great weekend.