Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 23 Tamuz,5783

Today is an interesting day in our Torah journey.  We actually have a double portion that is straddling two Parshot. We have one portion closing out Parsha Mattot, and then a second portion in Parsha Mase’ei. This means “Journeys.” We go from “Branches/Tribes” to “Journeys.”

We went from “Balak” to “Pinchas” – from the depths of despair to a lantern.  Then we discussed the tribes and branches that came out of the light shining on our despair, and it seems like NOW we are ready for our journey ahead.

Let’s dig in.

We close Mattot out with a resolution of the cliff hanger from yesterday.  Rueben and Gad had approached Moses and and asked to remain outside the promise land.  Moses thought this was out of cowardice – but they said they would fight for their families in the promised land.

Moses responds in our portion today:

• if you do this thing you’ve said
• if you arm yourselves for battle before God
• if your army crosses the Jordan before God
• if your army stays until God has driven out His enemies before Him
• if your army stays until the land is conquered before God

If Reuben and Gad do those things…then…

• you may return to the land here you have claimed
• you will be free of any obligation to God and Israel
• this land will become your heritage before God.

Moses warns them if they do NOT do these these things – “your sin will find you.”  That’s pretty ominous.  But instead, they say to Moses – “Your servants will do as my master commands!”

They will leave behind their children, their wives, and their cattle.

Then Moses then gave Gad and Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh the kingdom of the Amorites (that belonged to King Sihon) and kingdom of Bashan (that belonged to King Og).

And that is where the parsha Mattot ends.

As we transition to the new Parsha, Mase’ei, there is a quote that I think is important:

“At every stage of your journey there will be obstacles which, however unpleasant they may seem, have the positive effect of helping you grow. Look at obstacles as transformational tools. Remember that there are no shortcuts-and that every stage is crucial to your soul’s journey.”

Our journey ahead begins with obstacles. These may be unpleasant things – but have the positive effect of helping us grow.  These are transformational tools.  There are no shortcuts.  This is crucial.

Parsha Mase’ei is the final Parsha in the book of Numbers.  We will finish out this fourth book of the Torah and transition into the fifth – Deuteronomy.

One of the things I have been learning are about “segments” of our lives.  We transition from one segment to another – one job to the next, one career to the next, adding children to our family, children moving away for college, etc.  If we look at life in these “segments” we know a new segment will be coming at some point.  So working to set an intent as we transition from one segment to the next? That is super important.

What transitions are you going through? What do we want to bring with us into this new segment? What do we want to leave behind?  I am speaking within us? What habits and patterns do we want to release? What do we want to change?

As we dig into the first portion of Mase’ei, we read about 42 Journeys:

• 1-12 are the journeys from Exodus to Sinai
  • This is the story of the journey of being freed from slavery to the giving of direction.  Are you at the stage of life where you have just been released from what has been holding you back? Are you getting ready to receive direction for the next segment of your life? These are the questions to answer here.
• 13-15 is the short journey from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea
  • This is the story of being given the Torah/Direction and traveling to the promised land the first time, and the spies giving a bad report that caused the Israelites to wander for 40 years in the desert.  It’s interesting the short space of the journey from being given direction, to accepting a bad report. The question if you are in this stage of your journey – who are you listening to? Are you bringing in positive reports from people like Caleb and Joshua? Or are you listening to the 10 spies who were naysayers?  If you are struggling with a choice, who you listen to for advice is crucial
• 16-33 are the Desert wanderings
  • Are you feeling like you were given direction, but now you are wandering with no direction at all? Maybe you aren’t wandering as much as walking through a labyrinth.  You are still moving towards the promised land – but if you fight against this journey, it will be frustrating.  The goal here is NOT to frustrate you – it’s to be happy in the journey and understand you are going to the promised land – but its a long route.  If you are Joshua or Caleb in this journey? There can be peace.  If you are NOT, it’s going to be tough.  As my therapist tells me all the time “embrace the suck.” It’s a part of the journey!
• 34-42 is the final journey Towards the Land of Israel – the promised land
  • Are you almost there? So close you can taste it? This part of your life may be about preparing for war/conflict/battle.  You have what you need – you are getting ready.  Some questions to consider; What do we need to let go of to enter the promised land? What do we need to bring with us? Are we going to camp and live outside the promised land, but fight in it? Or are we all in and going into the land to settle? There is NO judgment in this segment.

And this is where today’s portion closes. Where are you at in your journey? Which of the segments feels most real for you? Maybe it isn’t one? Maybe some are overlapping.  For me? I am definitely in that first segment – I have recently felt free and liberated, but I am working towards a solid direction for the next segment of my life. That has been my almost 18 month journey that started on January 13, 2022.  Tomorrow (July 13, 2023) is a “double birth” (9 months x 2) and I am excited to receive whatever Hashem provides for me as direction moving forward!  I am at the base of Sinai!  Where are you?

Those are my thoughts – what about yours?  Where are you?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Moses says something really interesting here.

– if you do this thing you’ve said

– if you arm yourselves for battle before God

– if your army crosses the Jordan before God

– if your army stays until God has driven out His enemies before Him

– if your army stays until the land is conquered before God

If they do those things…then…

– you may return to the land here you have claimed

– you will be free of any obligation to God and Israel

– this land will become your heritage before God.

Now. My big question is whether being free of any obligation to God and Israel meant they didn’t need to keep the mitzvahs and Torah. I don’t think that’s a correct understanding – but I do have the question.

Moses goes on to tell them what would happen if they don’t. Basically he tells them “your sin will find you.”

Rueben and Gad’s descendants tell Moses they would do as he commands.

Moses talks to Eleazar and Joshua and all the other patriarchal tribes and tells them the plan.

Moses then gave Gad’s descendants and Rueben’s descendants and half the tribe of Manasseh the land outside of the promised land – on the side of the Jordan they were camped on.

Why half of Menasseh? Rabbi Abraham b. Jacob Saba writes “The half of Manasseh’s tribe that settled east of the Jordan did not choose to settle there because Moses commanded them to, in order to protect the tribes of Reuben and Gad. It was the merit of Joseph-Manasseh’s father–that protected the Jewish people, so Moses wanted Joseph’s descendants to live wherever the Jewish people were found.”

That is really interesting.

That’s where Parsha Mattot ends; and we will finish this fourth joined reading in a new Parsha, Parsha Mase’ei. This means “Journeys.” Again, we are getting close to the end of numbers and the preparation of entering into the promised land. They are both finishing a journey and beginning a journey here.

The Chumash writes this for inspiration:

“At every stage of your journey there will be obstacles which, however unpleasant they may seem, have the positive effect of helping you grow. Look at obstacles as transformational tools. Remember that there are no shortcuts-and that every stage is crucial to your soul’s journey.”

This is a good reminder for us as we continue our Torah study.

The parsha mase’ei begins with a list of 42 journeys of the Jewish people. It’s a recap of the process of leaving Egypt to their present camp along the Jordan.

My takeaway from this list of 42 journeys is that the process of going from slavery to freedom is a long and arduous process. It involves a lot of journeys and a lot of growth and development to get us ready to enter.

And, as we have read, some may choose to experience all of those journeys and STILL decide they would rather live in the wilderness than be in the promised land.

Kabbalah says something interesting about this:

The Ba’al Shem Tov taught that the forty-two journeys of the Israelite people represent the ups and downs of your life. Sometimes you encamp for many years in a safe haven of financial security and good relationships; on other occasions your passions overwhelm you and you ruin your life. (“They camped in Kibroth-hattaavah” (v. 16), where “they buried the people who craved” -Numbers 11:34.)

Does that mean that your failures are preordained and out of your control?

Of course not. Each journey is a test from God. When He fires your passions, He also gives you the hokhmah (insight) to conquer them. Whether that journey is an “up” or a “down” is for you to choose.” (End quote).

Fascinating! What are your thoughts?

Tomorrow, on the first of the month of Av, in a dark place spiritually – we will light our lives with bonus Torah study where we will work on the fifth and sixth joined readings which will catch us up for Shabbat!

May our lights shine bright in this transition from Tamuz to Av tonight!