Parshat Bamidbar opens with a census, focusing specifically on men aged twenty and above—those eligible to fight the enemies of Bnei Yisrael—as the nation prepares for their journey through the wilderness toward the land of Israel: (מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כׇּל־יֹצֵ֥א צָבָ֖א בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (במדבר א:ג
Every individual counts in this census; no one is left out. Rashi comments on the phrase שְׂאוּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ כׇּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, Take a census [literally “lift the head”] of the whole congregation of Israel, explaining that “due to Hashem’s love for them, Hashem counts them frequently.” Every person matters and has something unique to contribute to the whole.
Rashbam, however, emphasizes the practical aspect of this census, explaining that Bnei Yisrael were on a mission and therefore needed structure and clarity at this critical juncture. Are these two perspectives contradictory, or can they complement each other and become a shared vision?
This year, I had the privilege of serving as the Director of the Maimonides Fellows program. The goal of this program is to provide a highly personalized leadership development experience for Jewish men and women aspiring to enter the field of Jewish education. The Fellows also serve as role models for our students, forming meaningful and impactful relationships with them. Through the dedication of our exceptional faculty mentors and the creative efforts of our administrative team, I believe we achieved both of these goals this year.
To quote some of our students’ reflections about the Fellows: “Their being here made things more lively,” “I think the Fellows are great role models to look up to; they taught me many valuable life lessons,” and “They brought real ruach to the school.” The Fellows themselves also expressed deep satisfaction with the program. One Fellow shared, “I developed a deeper understanding of myself as an educator and gained greater clarity about what excites me in a school setting. I also built relationships [with students and teachers at Maimonides] that I hope to both contribute to and benefit from for years to come.”
In my own teaching, I strive to both teach and learn from my students. I see each student as a unique individual, and simultaneously as a contributing member of our educational community. Every student matters. Similarly, we empower our Fellows to actively participate in the school community and the classroom, aiming to develop their skills as educators and strengthen their roles as inspiring models for our students.
The census at the beginning of Parshat Bamidbar highlights the importance of recognizing each individual's strengths, while also organizing the community effectively for their shared mission of entering the land of Israel. Our mission at Maimonides School likewise focuses on both the individual and the community. In the words of our school’s mission statement, we aim “to produce religiously observant, educated Jews who will remain faithful to religious beliefs, values, and practices as they take their place as contributing members of general society.”
May we merit internalizing the lessons of Parshat Bamidbar by appreciating each individual's inherent worth, and deepening our students' love for Torah and Yahadut, as we collectively aspire to contribute positively to the Jewish people and greater humanity. | 