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Bamidbar (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Bamidbar

Dvar Torah
Bamidbar starts of a new book in the Torah also known as “Sefer Hapkudim” (Numbers). Numbers, starts off with…lots of numbers. Following up from the last count in Parshat Vayakhel (in Leviticus), the census for each tribe is recorded this week again for the same count (603,550), and everyone is re-counted again later (at a family level) in Parshat Pinchas (601,730) – with a few other smaller censuses interspersed as well.

Why so many numbers?

Rashi explains that Hashem counts us often because of his love for us. Or perhaps to put it colloquially, because each and every one of us count. G-d is constantly “taking attendance” because we are all critical to the Jewish People and each and every one of us have something unique to contribute. When we listen to the count in synagogue this shabbat, we can take pride in being loved, valued, and counted.

Trivia
Shabbat is getting late in the northern hemisphere. So late in fact that Havdalah becomes difficult for the younger folk (and some of the older folks as well!  Cue to Oslo shabbat times below). In fact though, Havdalah can be made until Tuesday evening – with the exception of the blessing on the candle which can only be said Motzai Shabbat. My British-born grandmother used to fondly recall as a child going to sleep and making Havdalah Sunday morning.

Shabbat Times (in/out)
Yerushalayim 19:03/20:21
Kerem Shalom 19:12/20:23
Johannesburg 17:05/18:01
Oslo (22:03/01:15 – Sun!)
Dubai 18:46/19:43
Berlin 20:59/22:33
NYC 20:01/21:10
Seattle 20:39/21:59

Shabbat Shalom!

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