Things that define a Nation
When one looks at the list (really, a list - because there are differing opinions as to what gets on the list) of the 613 mitzvot, one finds positive commands and prohibitions. One finds mitzvot that apply to each individual Jew, some only to men, some to women, some only to Kohanim, others only to non-Kohanim, some to Leviyim, some to the king... and some to the people of Israel as a whole - not to any individual. That this last type of mitzva is on the list (and some of the other categories, as well) , makes an important statement: One Jew by himself cannot fulfill all the mitzvot in the Torah. No one was expected to be able to fulfill all of the mitzvot. But as a Nation, the Jewish people - a multitude of individuals and a collective whole - were and are expected to keep the whole Torah.

The very first mitzva that G-d commanded to the soon-to-be Nation of Israel was not meant to be fulfilled by individual Jews. The mitzva to set up the Jewish Calendar is communal. It was spoken to Moshe and Aharon as representatives of the People - just as the Sanhedrin was to function later on - and it is the first of several mitzvot which become that adhesive that holds us together as a nation. It is the first, but, by no means, the only. Communal mitzvot define what is Am Yisrael. But this is only part of the mitzva-lessons of Parshat Bo. Korban Pesach - which accounts for nine of the 20 mitzvot in Parshat Bo (and several others elsewhere in the Torah) - not counting the chametz, matza, and hagada mitzvot - is different from Kiddush HaChodesh, in that it is a command to individual Jews, but still has the "we're in this together" aspect that defines nationhood. Although one person can bring a Korban Pesach on his own, the "real" (perhaps, intended) way to do it is with a CHAVURA, a family and/or neighbors group. This was so for the first command for Pesach Mitzrayim, and it is true of Pesach L'Dorot. Korban Pesach cannot be eaten by anyone other than pre-arranged members of the group.

About to make the transition from multitude to Nation, Bnei Yisrael are given their first number of mitzvot, all of which convey the message of the value of unity and cooperation one with the other.

Korban Pesach - is it a personal offering or a communal offering? There are sources that teach us it is both. Although it is personal, it was not permitted to be brought on a BAMAT YACHID, a personal altar (during certain periods in Israel of old, they were permitted), but could only be brought at the Miskan or Mikdash. When a majority of the people are TAMEI, the KP can be brought in TUM'A. This is not so with a "totally" personal korban.

Maybe we can summarize by saying that a well-known mathematical fact does not apply to our nation - for us, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is a lesson of nationhood... and maybe its definition.

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