Throughout Jewish history, millions of Jews offered their lives and the lives of their children to sanctify the Name of Hashem (Kiddush Hashem). They went to the gallows, were tortured and killed—all rather than change their faith and religion and deny their God. Even simple, uneducated Jews consciously and without hesitation gave their lives. This fortitude is astonishing: The Torah states that nothing can take precedence over repentance. Even if they had accepted, God forbid, to practice idolatry only in the eyes of others, they always had the possibility of returning with Teshuvah (repentance), and if this repentance had been complete (repentance out of love for Hashem), "sin is uprooted from its very root." Why didn't this idea occur to them, and instead, did they tacitly choose to offer their lives rather than be separated from Hashem for even a moment?
THE JEWISH POINT
Here we see the special bond that exists between the soul of a Jew and the Most High. In the heart of every Jew dwells "the Jewish point," which does not allow him to disconnect from Hashem, not even for the blink of an eye. The "Jewish point" is beyond time, and before it, there is no difference between a brief moment and a long period. As far as it is concerned, disconnection from Hashem, even for an instant, is not possible; it is equivalent to being disconnected eternally. This is why it does not allow the Jew to separate himself from Hashem for even a moment, even at the cost of his life.
An expression of this can be found in our Parashah, in Hashem's command to count the people of Israel. Rashi explains: "Out of His love for them, He counts them at every moment." This cannot be interpreted literally, as if Hashem actually counts the Jewish people at every moment, since only nine censuses of the Jewish people have been carried out from the Exodus from Egypt to the present (the tenth will take place at the Messianic Redemption). Rashi's intention is to give expression to the bond that exists "at every moment" between the people of Israel and the Most High.
ALL ARE EQUAL
When a census is taken, everyone is equal. The greatest of the great is no more than one, and the least of the little is no less than one. We see that the census does not refer to the special qualities and characteristics of each person (in which there are great differences between one person and another), but to the deep inner essence that is the same in everyone.
This shared essence is "the Jewish point," which is found equally in the greatest of the great and the least of the small. The power of the census (of which the Torah speaks) lies in the fact that it uncovers and reveals "the Jewish point" within every person in Israel.
HELP TO IMPOSE
This is the underlying meaning of Rashi's words: "He counts them at every moment." The counting of the children of Israel, which is an expression of God's love for them, influences the Jewish people at every moment and in every instant to the point that they cannot separate themselves from Him even for a brief moment, even knowing that this could later be rectified through repentance.
This census that Hashem conducted among the people of Israel was not just for that time, but possessed eternal power. Through it, God empowers every Jew, throughout all generations, to overcome the temptations of evil. When a Jew awakens the "Jewish spirit" within, he senses that every sin and transgression can disconnect him from the Most High, and this makes it easier for him to confront his instincts and remain attached to Hashem's holiness, avoiding sin even for a brief moment.
(Likutei Sichot, Volume 8, Page I)
NOTES: 1.Rambam Hilchot Teshuva final chapter 3, Igueret HaTeshuva chap.4 and in Yerushalmi Peah cap 1 halacha 1 2.Rashi Yoma 86,a 3.Bamidbar 1:1 See also Tanchuma Bamidbar 4, Bamidbar Rabbah parsha 4:1 4.Tanchuma Tisá 9. Bamidbar Rabbah 2:11