Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 2 Av, 5783

We are now one week away from Tisha B’Av – the 9th of Av.  A dark day on the Jewish calendar – they day on the calendar that both temples were destroyed.

Today’s portion is really interesting.  There is a lot in regards to sovereignty.  Hashem tells Moses, the people whose land He will NOT be giving the Israelites – and why.  They had sovereignty. Their own inheritance.  It’s a good reminder not to claim too much power for ourselves.  Others have rights of inheritances as well.  Those do not belong to us – just because we are “God’s chosen people.”

I was talking with a friend last night about this concept of sovereignty.  It’s hard to wrap our heads around.  Emotionally, it is the difference between holding someone in their sadness, and working to take their sadness from them – without their permission.  Trying to feel their sadness for them – without them asking us to.  As empaths, this is a difficult task because we often take on the emotions of others. “Allowing” others (and let’s be real – it’s not allowing – its respecting) to be in their own feelings and emotions, and trusting them to do the emotional work of feeling their emotions is a difficult thing in our society today.

However, today’s portion ALSO shows us when it is time to fight for our inheritance – and to go to war over sovereignty. There are times where I have to fight FOR my sadness – hey – I know you want me to feel happy – but right now, I need to experience my sadness.  I just need you to hold space for me to be sad.  I have had good friends communicate this to me – and it makes a world of difference.

The key from today’s portion? Peace and Harmony.  This was worth going to war for.  First within ourselves. Then with someone else.  If someone is trying to pull my peace and harmony away from me? I have sovereignty to go in a different direction – to move beyond a friendship – or to communicate that and allow them the opportunity to respect my boundaries or not.  The friends who have respected my boundaries to allow myself peace and harmony? They become better friends. Those who are willing to communicate their boundaries? We become BEST friends. We are sovereign over our lives.

Anyway – these are my thoughts with today’s portion!  I am curious as to yours!

This was my commentary a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 7 Av, 5782

Only a few more days until Tisha B’Av (9th of Av). We are both moving closer to the dark time of the remembrance of the destruction of the second temple – AND the light that comes with the full moon a week later. What a time it’s been.

Hopefully we’ve been able to “see in the dark” and “let our Neshama shine light in the dark” and “allow others lights to guide our way in the dark.” That has been my journey this past week; as reflecting back, a year ago had I experienced this past week, I would not likely be in the place I am today. So many “random” (spoiler alert: not random) people reached out to me this week to check in and make sure I was doing ok. New friends were made to help me live in my light, old friends reconnected. It’s been an extra-ordinary experience.

You all know who you are. The universe (Hashem) connected all of us for a time such as this. Thank you.

Let’s dig into todays portion!

Today Moses tells the people of the journey passing the Land of Edom. Remember, Edom was the land of Jacob’s brother Esau.

Moses tells the people that God spoke to him to tell the people not to provoke Edom. God has told them He isn’t going to give Edom’s land to them. Because that land was Esau’s as an inheritance.

My takeaway here is that as much as we are God’s chosen people, it doesn’t mean we have a right to the inheritances of others. We must honor and respect others and recognize God has a relationship with them as well. God gave Esau land. The mountain of Seir. We can’t just assume we are all God cares about. This is an important lesson as we are about to enter the promised land.

Getting back to the portion. God does allow the Israelites to trade with Edom. They can purchase items from them. They shouldn’t be afraid to show the Edomites how God has blessed them in the desert for 40 years.

Another takeaway. As we are wandering in our wilderness, being prepared to enter the promised land, God does bless us with wealth. It can be financial wealth, but it can also be relationships and wisdom and knowledge. We should not be afraid to show others how Hashem has blessed us in our wildernesses.

Next we come to the land of Moab. Once again we are told not to besiege the land because it was an inheritance for Lot.

We then get to a “dream sequence” (for lack of a better word) where we travel back in time to remind us that before we go to Moab, all the previous generation died out.

Before we go to cross the Zered Brook. The Torah is clear and reminds us; the time between leaving Kadesh Barnea (where our journey began) and crossing the Zered Brook was 38 years. That was “sufficient time” for the generation to die out. However, there were some who remained – to speed up the process of entering the promised land, Hashem’s hand came to eliminate those in the camp who didn’t die naturally. Until finally the generation died out (with the exceptions of Caleb and Joshua).

Then when all the men eligible for war passed, God had them cross the Moab and engage the Ammonites. But that meant not going to war with them because they were Lot’s descendants.

Now we got across the Arnon Brook; and we are called to fight. God tells the people (through Moses) that He has delivered Shihon the Amorite, King of Heshbon. And Moses encourages them even more. “Today I begin to make all the nations under the skies fear and dread you. When they hear of your reputation they will tremble and shudder because of you.”

We are reminded; the Jews ASKED to cross the land peacefully- and would pay for provisions. They wanted peace with Heshbon. Heshbon said “nope.” This is why the land was being delivered into Israel.

The portion today ends with;

“But Sihon, king of Heshbon, did not wish to let us pass through his (land), for God, your God, hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, so that He could give (his land) into our hand, as it is today.”

So much to take out of todays portion. This entire week as been a reflective week on our journey as we are about to enter the promised land. We are on the cusp of true freedom and liberation. We just need to take stock. Remember our journey so far. The times we were given things, and the times we were told no. We are not the only people God cares about. He has made promises to other peoples – the descendants of Lot. The descendants of Esau. We need to remember this. And to listen. God speaks to us and tells us when to go, when to stop. He gives us things and denies us others. This is a part of our spiritual journey to be free.

What are your thoughts?