Lyle Danuloff Ph. D.

TORAH PORTION

Every Person
Counts

Shabbat Naso:
Numbers 4:21-7:89;
Judges 13:2-25.

H

counting in our community. If we
ere in Metro Detroit, count-
want
to count ourselves as members
ing has weighed heavily
of
our
Jewish community, answer-
on our minds. Federation's
ing
the
phone isn't enough. We must
recent Jewish population survey gives
realize that being counted
a good idea of where our
brings
with it great commu-
community has come
nal
responsibility.
We, like the
over the past 15 years,
tribe
of
Levi,
have
work to do.
and more importantly,
And
every
one
of
us
counts.
where we're heading.
Since
you're
reading
the
On many fronts, the
and
you
Jewish
News
—
news doesn't look good.
actually got this far down in
There are far fewer Jews
the weekly Torah portion, that
in Detroit than there
means that you are — prob-
were in 1989. Our com-
ably strongly — connected
munity is now one of the
Rabbi
Reuven
to the Jewish community. You
oldest Jewish populations
Spolter
share that personal responsi-
in the country. There are
Special
to
the
bility
for the spiritual welfare
only some 17,000 Jewish
Jewish
News
of
the
Jewish people in our
children in our entire
community.
You and I have
community.
been
counted
by our com-
The message is clear:
munity, and now our community is
We need to attract young Jewish fami-
counting on each of us to make things
lies to our area. We need to keep the
better.
families we have Jewishly connected,
Do you know of a young family •
and we need to strongly encourage
looking to settle down? Tell them
families to send their children to
Jewish day schools. And we need to do about Metro Detroit and how it's a
great place to raise a Jewish family.
those things now
Know a family disconnected from the
The idea of counting is not new.
larger community? Invite them for a
this
week's
Torah
portion,
con-
Naso,
Shabbat meal or just a simple Sunday
tinues the theme of counting begun
evening barbecue to help them recon-
in the previous portion. After taking
nect. Finally, we must, once and for all,
a census of the 12 tribes of the Jewish
remove the stigma attached to Jewish
people, Moshe now turns his attention
to the tribe of Levi, the spiritual guard- education: It is anything but parochial.
Sending our children to Jewish day
ians of the Jewish people. While God
schools is the single greatest insurance
commands Moshe to count the fami-
that they will grow up to be involved,
lies of Levi separately, Moshe takes
knowledgeable and committed Jewish
that command one step further.
adults.
the
conclusion
of
the
counting,
At
And that's the most important count
the Torah tells us, "According to God's
of all. ❑
instruction, Moshe appointed them,
each person to his work and what he
was to carry" (4:49). Instead of just
Conversations
counting the people, Moshe realizes
The Torah actually prohibits the normal
that a count is a call to action. The
counting of Jewish people. Why does
Midrash teaches us that as Moshe
God forbid us from doing something
counts each person, he also assigns
He Himself does several times in the
each one a task related to the holy
Torah?
work of the tabernacle: one would
carry the ark; another would carry the
Reuven Spolter is rabbi of Young Israel of
altar, and so on.
Oak Park.
Moshe's counting in the desert
teaches us a critical lesson about our

Dr. Danuloff has been in practice in the Farmington Hills area
for 34 years. He is a skilled psychologist dealing with a broad
spectrum of psychological and adjustment difficulties.

Practice devoted to:
• Individual psychotherapy — adults, adolescents
• Marital and family therapy
• Blended families
• Substance abuse treatment
• Psychological evaluations

Daytime and Evening Appointments

Most Insurances Accepted

31500 Thirteen Mile Rd
Suite 100
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

For appointment call:

248-785-0088

Bloom's Father's Day Brunch
Free Seven Layer Coffee Cake

with any fish or dairy tray order.

(248) 8 55 -946 3

32418 Northwestern Hwy.

(Between Middlebelt & 14 Mile Rd.)
www.VineyardDeli.com

WE ONLY USE
KOSHER PRODUCTS
IN THE PREPARATION
OF OUR FOOD

Deli meat trays and delivery Available.

June 8 • 2006

43