Not Counting on You

Q: Why do we not count Jews?  I see people often number them at services by saying, "Not one, not two, not three..."

A: It is an ancient custom that we refrain from counting our fellow Jews.   A reason cited for not numbering people is found in the books of Exodus and Second Samuel.  In both instances, the census was connected with a plague.  Other times, people were counted for purposes of creating an army for war.

Some people recite the prayer over bread (ha-motsie) when counting the assemblage (because the prayer contains ten words) to determine if there are ten Jews.  Instead of counting for a minyan or census, some count yarmulkes, or coats or even glasses.  The article is considered a substitute for the person. Another custom, as you note, is two count by saying, "not one, not two etc."

There is also the sense that many hold that the idea of not counting people will foil the Angel of Death.  In this way he will not know how many Jews there are and not feel tempted to do his job even more efficiently.