And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man with his own camp, and every man with his own standard, according to their hosts. Numbers 1.52
We just read of the formation of the camp of the Israelites, as they made for the promised land. The camp was square in form. In the center was the Tent of Meeting, symbolic of the divine presence in their midst. Surrounding it there were the camps of the families of the Levites, and beyond these the camps of the Israelite tribes in groups of three to the north, south, east and west, named respectively for the man tribe of each group, Dan, Reuben, Judah and Ephraim.
The verse I quoted tells us that the Israelites were commanded to encamp, every one with his own camp and his own standard. This has, I think, a lesson for you today. On this day of your bar mitzvah you achieve religious independence. This does not confer upon you the right to a driver's license, or to come home every night after midnight. It means that hereafter you are responsible and answerable for your own actions. Of course you still need guidance – and who does not? –. but now you have set up your own standard, you are a man and his standard. It is for you to hold your banner high, to be self-reliant and a good soldier in the battle of life, defending the right, and combatting the wrong.
At the same time, you have to remember that you are a member of the encampment of Israel. It is not always easy to belong to that encampment. Yet it is proud and ancient, and you have the privilege of being part of it. Your independence as a standard bearer must not affect your desire to cooperate as a camp member, and to do all you can for the good of the community.
The idea of encampment is a static, unmoving one. But the Torah puts before us a dynamic, moving idea too, for later it says:
In the same way as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place, by their standards. 2.17
There will be quiet periods in your life when, so to speak, you are encamped. These will be times of refreshment and preparation, when it should be fairly easy to follow the idea of self-reliance coupled with cooperation with others. But these ideals must inspire you even at those times in your life when you "set forward," when you advance to new heights physically and spiritually. Your progress must be essentially from yourself. You should not expect others to pull wires for you. On the other hand, you must not progress at the cost of the happiness and well-being of others. In your ambitions, you should always remember that you are part of a camp, and your own welfare is insolubly linked with the welfare of others.
All this is well within your reach. You have devoted parents, who bring you and your sister with great regularity to this place, where you may form part of the community, and offer your own prayers and meditations. I hope you will continue to come often. Your presence enriches us, and the synagogue in turn will enrich you. It is our hope and prayer that you will grown up to be a good Jew, and a good citizen, a credit to yourself and your community.
The author of this page is:
Alan D. Corré