In Song: Bamidbar

By Martin Stone May 27, 2011

Each week ‘In Song’ links the weekly Torah reading — however tenuously — to classic works of rock ‘n’ roll.

This week’s parsha, Bamidbar (in the desert), kicks off the Book of Numbers, starting with a census of the nation of Israel (603,550 males of military age) and a description of their camping arrangements. Then the tribe of Levi is counted separately, for their dedication to serve in the Tabernacle. The final part of the parsha describes the duties of the Levite family of Kehat. Whereas the other Levite families transported the structural elements of the Tabernacle in wagons, the Kehat family had the privilege of carrying the functional elements. However, they had to “Carry That Weight” by hand!

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO