Counting Jewish People: Difference between revisions

However, the Mishna Yoma 22b writes that when the officer in charge of appointing specific Cohanim to the jobs in that day’s service in the Bet HaMidash, the officer would pick a high number, each cohen would put out one or two fingers and then the officer would count the fingers until he reached the number he picked. The Gemara explains that they didn’t count the heads of the Cohanim because it’s prohibited to count Jews even for the purpose of a mitzvah and proves it from a פסוק by Shaul HaMelech who counted the people for the army through sheep (he gave each person a sheep and then collected the sheep and counted them). Then the Gemara goes on to quote two other pesukim in Nach to prove the prohibition to count Jews.  

The question asked is that why didn’t the Gemara quote the פסוק in Ki Tisa which would be a biblical source instead of quoting from Neviyim. Some answer that it was possible to think that the reason the half shekelim were collected was in collect to atone for the Chet HaEgel really counting directly was permitted, therefore the Gemara brings a source in Nach to prove the prohibition (Maharsha Yoma). Alternatively some answer that perhaps Moshe counted them directly and the coins were given to remove the Ayin Harah but there’s no proof to the actual prohibition and so the Gemara quoted the pesukim by shaul (Makom Shmuel). However, some answered that really there is a prohibition from the פסוק in Ki Tisa but the Gemara wanted to prove that it was prohibited even for mitzvah purposes and the count in Ki Tisa wasn’t for mitzvah purposes. The implication of this is that the count done by Moshe wasn’t for a mitzvah but nonetheless was permitted by means of counting something besides the actual people (Tzitz Eliezer 7:3:1, Divrei Emet). Yet, this last point is disputed and some rejected this leniency saying that if this were true then why didn’t Yoav (David’s general who carried out the count) collect something from each Jews and then count that, rather it must be that there’s no leniency to count by means of something else except for the purposes of a mitzvah (Bear Sheva).  

There’s numerous discussions on this halachic topic drawing on all different types of sources and logic. Two more points is that this discussion reemerged when European countries began to take public censuses. It was discussed at length at the time with the חתם סופר coming out strict that one shouldn’t participate while the Peot HaShulchan concluding leniently. Since then there has been a tremendous discussion every time the Israeli census takes place, some of the Gedolim permitting while others advising people from refraining.  

# There’s a prohibition to count Jewish people. <Ref>The source in Torah for the prohibition is found in Shemot 30:12 which says that each person counted must give an atonement in order to prevent a plague. Gemara Brachot 62b relates that when David HaMelech made a mistake to count the Jews a plague actually did come onto the people. Gemara Yoma 22b rules that it's forbidden to count Jews even for a mitzvah purpose based on Shmuel 1, 15:4 which says that Shaul counted the people by means of lambs, giving one to each person and then collecting them again. Most achronim (Magan Avraham 156:2, Pri Chadash 55:1, Kaf HaChaim 13:10) hold that the prohibition still applies nowadays and are supported by the Rambam Temidin UMussafin 4:4. The Aynayim LeMishpat (Brachot 62b) who says that there’s no prohibition nowadays based on Rabbenu Chananel in Brachot, however, the Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 7:3 (Chapter 1 section 2) strongly disagrees in explanation of the Gemara. All achronim agree that there’s still a prohibition in effect nowadays including the Magan Avraham 156:2, Gra (Aderet Eliyahu Parshat Ki Tisa). </ref> According to most authorities this prohibition is a biblical command. <Ref>Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 7:3 (Chapter 1 section 1) </ref>

# The prohibition applies even counting for a mitzvah. <ref>Magan Avraham 156:2 </ref>

# Numbering Jewish graves is prohibited, however it’s permissible to number each section assuming that there’s different number of graves in each section. <Ref>Sh”t Igrot Moshe Y”D 2:117(2) </ref>

# It’s a problem of counting Jewish people for people or children standing in a line for each one to say his number. <Ref> Shevet HaLevi 1:34 </ref>

# Some hold participating in the Israeli consenus is permissible. <Ref>Sh”t Shevet HaLevi O”C 9:35, Sh”t Mishpatei Uziel 4:2, Sh"t Seridei Esh 2:48, Menachem Kasher (Sh"t Divrei Menachem 1:36), Rabbi Unterman quoted in Techumin (vol 4 pg 335) </ref> while others forbid. <Ref> Rabbi Goren (HaTzofeh Sivan 5743), Rav Chaim Kanievsky (HaTzofeh vol 15 pg 8 col 1; Nachal Eitan 6:10(7)), Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 7:3, and the Edah Charedit (HaEdah Behalotcha 5733) </ref>