Baseless Love
Student Summaries of Sichot of the Roshei Yeshiva
Yeshivat
Har Etzion
PARASHAT BAMIDBAR
SICHA OF HARAV YEHUDA AMITAL SHLIT"A
Baseless
Love
Adapted by Ron
Kleinman
Translated by Kaeren
Fish
"Take the sum of all the congregation of Bnei Yisrael…"
(Bamidbar 1:2). Rashi explains: "Since they are so beloved to Him, He
counts them all the time." Likewise, when the children of Israel are enumerated
at the opening of Sefer Shemot, he comments: "To express their
dearness, that they are compared to stars… as it is written, 'Who brings out
their host by number, calling each by name.'" Thus, we may say that counting is
undertaken out of love.
On the other hand, we find it written concerning David
(Divrei Ha-yamim 21:1): "Satan stood against Israel, and provoked David
to number Israel." This census resulted in a catastrophic plague. Ramban
(Bamidbar 1:2) explains that God was angry at David for counting the
nation needlessly, "only to bring joy to himself, that he ruled over a great
many people."
Counting, then, raises a problem. We count things that are
alike; hence, counting implies that each item is equal. People are not to be
counted. Each person is unique.
It is written, "Each man by his banner, according to his
otot" (Bamidbar 2:2). "Otot" refers to insignia, but
literally it means also "letters;" hence the idea that each individual has his
own letter in the Torah.
In his commentary to Mishlei (16:4), the Vilna Gaon
explains that the task of the prophets among Am Yisrael was to instruct each
person as to his unique path in Torah and in Divine service. Many different
paths exist; "Your commandments are exceedingly expansive" (Tehillim
119:96).
Nevertheless, Am Yisrael in the desert needed to be counted
– an act emphasizing their common denominator. The very formation and start of
the nation required its unification and consolidation.
I often refer to a teaching from the Yerushalmi Talmud, at
the beginning of Massekhet Peah:
The generation of King David was entirely righteous, but
because there were slander-mongers among them, they would go out to war and
suffer casualties. This is what David means when he says (Tehillim 57), "My soul
is among lions; I lie down among those who are aflame" – this refers to Avner
and Amasa, Doeg and Achitofel, the people of Ke'ila, etc.
The generation of King Achav, on the other hand, was an
idolatrous one. But since there were no slander-mongers among them, they went
out to war and were victorious.
There is terrible hatred today between the various groups
and sectors of our nation. Our era is like the era of David, with mutually
hostile camps: the camp of Avner and the camp of Doeg, the camp of the people of
Ke'ila, etc. Some time ago I had a conversation with someone close to Charedi
circles, and he insisted that the hatred within each camp is greater than the
hatred between them. They radiate hatred towards us, and we respond in kind. We
will end up, heaven forefend, in a situation of Kamtza and Bar-Kamtza: a very
great love for fellow Jews – but only those who are like us, people of our
circle. Anyone who is not part of our camp should kindly keep to
himself.
Rav Kook used to say that the Temple was destroyed because
of baseless hatred, and it will be rebuilt only by virtue of baseless
love.
We dare not close our eyes to what is going on around us. A
person must react to his environment, but at the same time we must preserve and
guard the unity of the nation, and avoid responding to hatred with more
hatred.
(This sicha was delivered on leil Shabbat parashat Bamidbar
5747 [1987].)