• Why Jews Don't Count People: Biblical Origins and Human Dignity

  • Apr 16 2025
  • Length: 2 mins
  • Podcast

Why Jews Don't Count People: Biblical Origins and Human Dignity

Listen for free

View show details

  • Summary

  • In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I continue our exploration of why Jewish tradition avoids directly counting people. Tracing this practice back to biblical times, I explain how even during desert censuses, Jews were counted indirectly through coin contributions. I share the cautionary tale from the Book of Samuel where King David's census led to calamity, and draw on commentaries from Rambam and Rashi about the "evil eye." More profoundly, I suggest that assigning numbers to people diminishes their infinite value and human dignity a principle tragically illustrated by the Nazi practice of tattooing numbers on Holocaust victims. Unlike modern censuses that reduce people to statistics, Jewish tradition recognizes that each person counts without being reduced to a mere number. Through creative counting methods like using verses or counting shoes, Judaism upholds human dignity while still gathering necessary information.


    Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,
    Email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧

    Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟
    Follow us for more:
    Website - https://www.joidenver.com
    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joidenver
    Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JOIdenver
    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JOIdenver
    Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jewishdiy
    Show more Show less
Show more Show less
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup

What listeners say about Why Jews Don't Count People: Biblical Origins and Human Dignity

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available