#516: Either a Leader or a Shanda!

Kotzker Rebbe on Parashat Bamidbar, Bamidbar/Numbers 1:2

If you’re an observant Jew who has committed a non-violent federal crime, there’s a good chance you’ll end up at FCI Otisville in upstate New York.

Bamidbar/Numbers 1:2

שְׂא֗וּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֙ כׇּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֔וֹת כׇּל־זָכָ֖ר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם׃

Take a census of the whole Israelite company [of figh…