The most important rule in ice hockey is: "keep your head up" as you skate down the ice. If you don't, you leave yourself open to a body crunching "check" or "tackle" (as we say in England). If you don't keep your head up, you're not able to see the obstacles ahead in order to take diversionary tactics to avoid the hurdles you are bound to meet along the way. In this week's Sedra, G-d also tells us to "keep our heads up" as we travel along the highway of life. Do you think, maybe, that G-d invented hockey? Here is what He says:

"Ki tisa es rosh b'nei yisroel" -"when you take a census of the Children of Israel..."

When the Torah says "take a census" it literally uses the words: "when you lift up the heads of the Jewish people..." In order to be counted as part of the Jewish people, it seems you must "keep your head up." What does this mean?.

The Talmud in Bava Basra 10b says that the census counted the Jews but it also served to elevate the children of Israel to a new level of "self". This is the reason the Torah uses the words "seu es rosh" - "lift up the heads" - as the method of counting.

The census was conducted by each Jew contributing half a shekel, to be put towards the cost of building the Mishkan - the Sanctuary. The Rambam states in Hilchot Shkalim that "even a poor man who is supported by charitable funds is obligated to contribute the half shekel, either by borrowing the money or by selling the shirt off his back!" Why should he go to such lengths in order to give? The answer must be that notwithstanding a person's "apparent" financial assets, each person has his/her own intrinsic value before G-d - as a member of the Jewish people. Hashem is telling us that no matter how much you value yourself, you may see yourself as a "poor" man, but you can and must make your contribution to the Jewish people. G-d is telling us that we count. Not only that, but we must "lift up our own heads" and see ourselves as people of value.

The question remains: Do you count because you belong to the Jewish people, or must you count in your own eyes before you can be "counted" in the census? The answer lies in the order of the census: G-d says: "Lift up the heads of the Jewish people" and then He tells us to give a half shekel each. It appears that only when you appreciate your own talents and worth can you then give your half shekel. Lift yourself up - build up your own self esteem, says the Torah! See yourself as valuable and worthy. Then you can make your own unique contribution to the Jewish people, by giving your half shekel.