Pinchas - Surrounded by His Name: When Hashem Restores Our Identity

Why does Sefer Bamidbar begin and end with a census? And why, in Parshas Pinchas, does the Torah surround each family name with a ה and a י?

Rashi explains that the nations mocked Klal Yisrael and attacked the purity of their lineage. But was the Torah trying to convince the nations — or was Hashem speaking to us?

In this shiur, delivered in Camp HASC, Rav Burg explores the deeper meaning of the second census, the true purpose of yichus, and why an attack on a person’s past can become an attack on his identity. Through the words of Chazal about Dovid HaMelech’s plea that the Rabbanan not define him by his lowest moment, we discover how deeply a person is shaped by the way he is seen.

Before Klal Yisrael enters Eretz Yisrael, Hashem places His Name around every family and tells them: You are not defined by Egypt. You are not defined by mockery. Your identity comes from Me.