Shemos 1:1 “And these are the children of Israel who were coming to Egypt”.
Rashi states,” Although Hashem counted them during their lives, by name, He recounts them in their death, to make their endearment known – that they are compared to stars, which he brings out and in by number and by name, etc.”
What is the purpose of bringing out the stars by number and name? Generally, a name describes purpose or an assignment of duty, and a number expresses that something is finite and not infinite. But what is the message here?
What is the job of the stars, and for all humanly purposes the stars are infinite? Bereshis (15:5) states in regards to Avraham Avinu “He brought him outside and said, now look down at the heavens and count the stars if you are able to count them”. Clearly the intention of stars is that they are infinite. Also numbers are infinite because you can always add a zero at the end or a one at the beginning. It’s the act of counting that is limited to having what to count.
On a deeper level, the concept of bringing out the stars by number is that although they are inherently beyond number to us, Hashem can bring them out by number. This is the perfect metaphor to describe the essence of the Jewish people in the eyes of Hashem. We are in a quasi-state of nature; on one hand we are within nature; being human and having all the physical limitations. On the other hand, we are above nature that we can survive; a sheep among 70 wolves. In every generation there is an effort to destroy us and Hashem saves us from our enemies. The stars have a number that Hashem counts them every day, but they can’t be counted by humans. Just as the stars are untouchable by humans so too Am Yisrael, when we do the will of Hashem, we are untouchable by the world.
The stars have names that define their purpose. The spiritual energy that comes to the world passes through the constellations. The constellations are a combination of stars that direct the energy to earth with a definitive objective to enhance humanity. Each Jew has the same objective; to enhance the world with his and her unique abilities. We were chosen to be a light (as a star) onto the world and this is the meaning of us being likened to stars.
Just as the stars have a specific job that they have been programmed to do, we also have a mission that we need to accomplish. Hashem therefore watches over us and is involved in our lives to enable us to accomplish this mission. This is the concept of Hasgacha pratis; Hashem’s personal interaction in our daily lives is a source of love and endearment to us.
In order to achieve success in our mission, we must be like the stars. When the two big luminaries were at odds, Hashem made the moon smaller, and the moon was upset. Hashem then introduced the stars to create peace and harmony between the sun and the moon. When we become one that generates peace and harmony, we will be real stars, and our mission possible.
