Search the Community

“In the wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the second month, in the second year from the Exodus from the land of Egypt, AD’NAI spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting saying, ‘Do a head count of all the community of Bnei-Yisrael.” – Numbers 1:1-2, Tree of Life Version The congregation (adus) of Israel are to serve as a testimony, in and of themselves, to the Kavod (Glory) of G’d. The Hebrew word, adus means testimony; and, is also used in reference to the Ark – the Ark of Testimony – because the Ark contained the tablets of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments). The Commandments are the testimony, received by Moses, and delivered to the B’nei Yisrael at Sinai. Additionally, we, ourselves are a testimony to the L’RD when we follow the commandments. In our own lives, we give glory (kavod) to the L’RD, by serving as an example, of the level of kedushah (holiness) bestowed upon us at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai). At the time B’nei Yisrael left Egypt, the L’RD counted them (Exodus 12: 37). After the incident of the golden egel (calf), the L’RD took another census to see how many were left, after the transgressors were fallen. And, now, one month after the completion of the Mishkan, where the L’RD’s Divine Presence, the Shechinah rests. It as if to say, that since His Presence dwells amidst B’nei Yisrael, by way of the Mishkan, they have been elevated to a new level of kedushah (holiness) and are even more treasured by the L’RD. Rashi specifically comments that the L’RD counts B’nei Yisrael because they are dear to him. Ostensibly, B’nei Yisrael was counted, at this time, to find out how many men were eligible to go to war. The Levites were counted separately, for their calling was in service to the L’RD; they were not required to go to war – they were the guardians of the Mishkan (Tanernacle). As such, their responsibilities precluded them from serving in the Legion. They protected the Mishkan. “The testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world, and most especially toward you, with simplicity and godly sincerity.” 2 Corinthians 1:12, Tree of Life Version The first time that the word adus appears in all of Torah is when the L’RD gives the commandment to the congregation (adus) of Israel, concerning a lamb that is to be taken by each family, and slaughtered (Exodus 12:3). Its blood would then be placed on the doorway, as a sign, whereby the Angel of Death would not destroy the firstborn in the homes protected by the blood of the lamb. This implies not only a redemption for the firstborn, whose lives were spared; all of B’nei Yisrael was redeemed as a people, from slavery in Egypt, in order to begin serving the L’RD as an adus – a congregation – in the Wilderness. We became an adus, a congregation, at that time, because of our “testimony,” in regard to the placement of the blood of the lamb on the doorways of our homes. Today, a mezuzah is placed upon our doorways, another sign of our faithfulness to the L’RD’s commandments. It was through emunah (faith) that B’nei Yisrael slaughtered a lamb, according to the L’RD’s commandment, trusting in the L’RD for protection against the plague of death. This trust enabled them to boldly place the blood in a visible manner, upon the entranceways of their homes. This show of trust in the L’RD, and act of faith in his promise of redemption – “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” (Exodus 6:6, TLV) – rendered B’nei Yisrael an (adus) a unique congregation of people, who trusted in their redemption, as understood by their emunah (faith), concerning the Pesach lamb. “By trusting, he [Moses] obeyed the requirements for the Pesach, including the smearing of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel” (Hebrews 11:28, CJB). The Pesach adus, a national offering described by chazal (the sages) as the quintessential korban (offering), foreshadows the ultimate korban (offering) made for all of Israel: “and he was brought like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). Through this offering we may obtain the redemption given to us when we place our trust in the provision given to us through the blood of the Lamb. “Whom G-d set forth as a kapporah through emunah (faith) in the dahm (blood) of Moshiach, to demonstrate the Tzedek Olamim, the Tzidkat H’Shem (righteousness of G-d) in pasach (passing over, letting go the penalty of) the averos (sins) committed in former times” Kehillah in Rome 3:25, Orthodox Jewish Bible