Ki tisa

Question 1

what is the issur of counting the jews ?

Answer 1

Issur -(Ram tamid 4:4) (MA 156:2)

Reasons- Rashi-danger of plague on those counted
Anaf yosef (yuma22)-as klal they have merit
when counted you separate
and they subject to
individual scrutiny
sources in the Gemmarah;
shmos(30,12)

(brachos62b)-davids mistake schoolchildren know 70000 people died b/c he counted (shmuel 2;24)

(yuma22)-kohanim counted separate (who would take the ash from the mizbeach -1st race up ramp if = then counted )
R’nachman -2 Lo tases

Question 2

what is the nature of the issur of counting the jews ?

Answer 2

beershevah- deoraisa
why rambam/chinuch leave it out ?

R’Perlow -rasag hold its derabanan
deoraisa no issur counting jews as long as give a half shekel -issur from navi (shaul)-derabanan

Question 3

when can you count ?

Answer 3

(Tos rid ,Chidah)-can only count for a dvar mitzva Can’t count for no reason
R’mizrachi)-counting part of klal yisrael is ok (doesn’t fit with shaul and kohanim )

Question 4

can you count bmachshava or names written on paper ?

Answer 4

Kaf hachaim (13;10)-can count in mind -issur only audibly

(chasam sofer ksav yd106) -assur to count written names orally
Ralbag-mutar

see Yabia omer 10 C’‘M 2) for more