In Jewish life, there is a proper order and time for everything. We have guidelines for respecting and prioritizing people based on their age, level of scholarship, and communal need.
In the census of the parsha, the Jews were counted in the order of their birth, by mother. Then, the flags and encampment were ordered based on the organization of the tribes with an eye to their military roles. Finally, the Levi’im were assigned specific tasks by family.
The beauty of Klal Yisrael is that each person has a purpose and reason to exist. We have responsibilities to Hashem and to Man on both a personal and communal level.
Lest anyone feel inferior or frustrated that they have no worth, we remind everyone that there is a place for them, though it may not be based on the criteria they think it should be.
Just as the Torah organized people in many different ways and for many different reasons and purposes, so can we not assume that because we should come first according to one rule, it is an absolute.
Hashem has a plan for each of us, and our job is to figure out where He wants us to fit in.
Thought of the week:
We don’t count Jews directly, but through another medium. This teaches us that simply by looking at someone, we cannot gain an accurate reckoning of their significance.
