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HEBREW TABERNACLE CONGREGATION May 15, 2010 D’var Torah
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Miranda
Perez is an 8th grader at PS 187. She was born hours before the start of
1997, which makes her the youngest in her class. After six years at Solomon
Schechter of Manhattan, she decided she wanted to “daven” on her own time and
switched to a secular school. It’s been a great move for her and is much
closer to home! An avid opera lover with parents who are involved in the
opera world, Miranda loves going to The Met to hear friends sing. She
especially loves going backstage to “hang” with the artists. Miranda’s Torah
portion is Bamidbar, which speaks about the census; something that’s very
timely since this is a census year. Miranda is looking forward to going to
Eleanor Roosevelt High School next year! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This week’s Parasha, Parshat
B’midbar, is not an easy topic to discuss. The Parasha states: "And the
Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on
the first day of the second month, in the second year after they came out
from the land of Egypt, saying, 'Take a census of all the congregation of the
people of Israel, by families, by the house of their fathers, according to
the number of names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and
upward, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel; you and Aaron shall
count their armies.'” This is a very relevant subject
today because this year, 2010, happens to be census year. Generally speaking,
one might think that a census is not something that is really fitting for
such a sacred book as the Torah, but in fact it is. This portion displays the idea
that everyone should be counted. Every person has needs and it is our job as
Jews to show every person respect and make them feel special. “And the Lord spoke to Moses,
“count all the firstborn of the males of the people of Israel from a month
old and upward, and take the number of their names.” This line displays that God, not
only wanted a census of the men who were eligible to fight on the
battlefield, but he also wanted their children to be counted as well. Nachmanides, a 13th century Spanish
biblical scholar, comments that “The census is conducted by Moses in a
special manner. Instead of just numbering people, those taking the poll are
instructed by Moses to do so in a manner that will give honor and importance
to each person.” Nachmanides also says that Moses
tells the poll takers “do not ask the head of each family for the number of
the people in the family. Rather,
invite each person to pass before me. Take down the person’s name, and let each
one feel honored to be a part of the census.” To me this is a really
interesting statement. Think about it, we go through our lives, much of the
time, being represented by numbers. For example, when you are waiting in line
at your local deli, you have to take a number; all of a sudden that two or
three digit number represents you. If someone calls out your number you
respond as if they called your name.
In school you have an ID number and the government identifies you by
your Social Security number.
My parasha shows that people aren’t reduced to numbers, but that they
are created in the image of God and each person is as important and sacred as
the next. The census makes me feel
like I am a part of something bigger then myself. Knowing now that somewhere
out there, there is a census containing the names of my ancestors fills me
with wonder. I marvel at the fact that I am a part of something more than
just myself. I marvel at the fact that
I am also a part of a long line of family that I didn’t know about. The census is more than just the
government wanting to know your business; it is people showing that they
care. They care about who you are and
what your name is and by being a part of the census you are recording your
name for future generations, so that they too can discover where they came
from and who they are. A few years ago my mom joined
Ancestry. com to try and find some of our family history. In her searching she came across the 1930
census. There she found a little piece
of her family’s past. My grandmother grew up on the Lower East Side of
Manhattan. Her parents were divorced
but at the time the census was taken they were still together as a family
unit. My grandfather’s parents were
immigrants from Syria living in Brooklyn. His mother died when he was only 6
so in 1930 she had already passed away but left 8 children and husband whose
names were all listed there in the census. It was so fascinating to be able to
imagine what their life was like, then, compared to mine now. Your history is
a part of you, and until you explore it, it will be just lying there waiting
to be discovered. The census is a book of the names of all of those special
people that we all cherish so much. So, another meaning of my Parasha, an
even deeper one, is that every single person is important. Don’t just give
someone a number, but give them a name, give them a personality and make them
whole. Wouldn’t you want them to do the same for you? Being a Jew is all about showing
other people the respect that they deserve. The census does just that, and
that is why it is a part of the Torah and a part of everyone’s history. Everybody is born into this world
with an identity and something that defines them. Sometimes people are born
just knowing who they are. Sometimes people are put into situations where
they figure it out. Part of acknowledging each person is giving them a chance
to express and explore themselves so they can figure out more about who they
are. This huge Bat Mitzvah process has
shown me things about myself that I had never known. One example is I never
really knew how connected to Judaism and my culture I was until this moment.
I never knew that I was this devoted to something that was born into me.
Sometimes you come across a person like me, who doesn’t really have a clue
what they want to do, but knows what they love and the type of people they
want to be around. My love of opera, something that I have always had in my
life, and by which I have been surrounded, has made me who I am. Whether it
has made me a better person, I am not sure. But being a part of something
like music has given me a sense of being. Just like the census might give to
another person. This celebration of my becoming a
Jewish adult is exciting. I am now prepared for all of the responsibilities
that go with this new stage in my life. This Parasha has taught me to pay
attention to EVERY person, not only the people that are EASY to pay attention
to, but the ones who aren’t as well. If we don’t give every person a
chance to show who they are, then we are the ones missing out, not them. My responsibility, now that I am
an adult, is to give every person the respect they deserve and show not only
what a great Jew I am, but what a great individual I strive…. to…. be.... Before I finish I would like to
thank a few people. I would first like to thank my wonderful Hebrew tutor,
Nina Nesher, for helping me learn how to chant these beautiful lines of
Torah. I would also like to thank Rabbi Gale for being supportive in the
writing of my speech, it took a lot of will power but I did it and I have him
to thank. Also, thank you to Cantor Pincus for helping me perfect my chanting
and helping me make it as musical as I possibly could. Thank you to my Aunt,
Cantor Claire Franco for delighting us with her beautiful voice, and always
being there for me as I grew up. Also
thank you to the special people in my life who have come to this fantastic
celebration. I love and appreciate all of you and your support of me
throughout my life. And finally thank you to my parents, my dad for always
listening to me when I need someone to talk to and giving me more love than I
could handle, and my mom for being my mom, someone who is there when I needed
a hug and a kiss, someone who is there when I may not be the nicest person,
someone who is there when no one else is, and someone who is there when I
needed help practicing Torah. They are the most AMAZING people I know and I
love them with all my heart.
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