In this weeks' parashah, the Torah directs us to count the Jewish nation from the age of 20, but to count the children of Levi from the age of 30 days.
Rashi notes משיצא מכלל נפלים הוא נמנה ליקרא שומר משמרת הקדש, once [the child] is viable. he is counted to be called 'a guardians of that which is sacred ." Rashi then cites a Midrash: R' Yehudah b'R' Shalom observed that Shevet Levi had a history of being counted from infancy, as we find that Yocheved, who was born as Yaakov entered Egypt, was counted among the 70 family members who descended.
It would seen that Rashi and the Midrash he cites are teaching us an important lesson.
Initially, the firstborn were to have the distinction of being "guardians of that which is sacred." The sanctity of the firstborn is also a distinction that comes at birth. But following the episode of the eigel, the Golden Calf, Moshe called out "Whoever is for Hashem, come to me." And although all of Shevet Levi responded to Moshe's call, not all the firstborn of the other shevatim did.
Apparently, they were unprepared for their mission and lost their opportunity. They forfeited their unique role. It was then that Levi was chosen to be the "guardians of that which is sacred."
Shevet Levi, on the other hand, seems to have been imbued with a different set of values. Even in Egypt they were committed to Torah study and were therefore never ensnared into the subjugation there. The chinuch they received inspired every one them to respond to Moshe's call.
Every Jew is special and is counted. But if we want our children to become all that they can, if we want them to become part of the honor guard of guardians of that which is sacred, we must, from childhood on, inspire them with a sense of distinction and mission.
May we all inspire ourselves and our children to be our best, and at this year's kabbalas HaTorah, may we truly recognize that we are an integral member of Hashem's "Kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation."
Gut Shabbos and gut Yom Tov.
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