Torah Weekly - Parshat Matot/Masei
Parshat Matot/Masei
This publication is also available in the following formats:
![[Text]](/tw/5760/bamidbar/../../../image/ascii.gif){kind=small}
Explanation of these symbols
Overview
Matot
Moshe teaches the rules governing oaths and vows -- especially the role of a husband or father in either upholding or annulling a vow. Bnei Yisrael war against Midian. They kill all the males, the five Midianite kings, and Bilaam. Moshe is upset that women were taken captive, because they were catalysts for the immoral behavior of the Jewish People. He rebukes the officers. The spoils of war are counted and apportioned. The commanding officers report to Moshe that there was not one casualty among Bnei Yisrael. They bring an offering which is taken by Moshe and Elazar and placed in the Ohel Mo'ed (Tent of Meeting). The Tribes of Gad and Reuven, who own large quantities of livestock, petition Moshe to allow them to remain east of the Jordan and not enter the Land of Israel. They explain that the land east of the Jordan is quite suitable grazing land for their livestock. Moshe's initial response is that this request will discourage the rest of Bnei Yisrael, and that it is akin to the sin of the spies. They assure Moshe that they will first help conquer Israel, and only then will they go back to their homes on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Moshe grants their request on condition that they uphold their part of the deal.
Masei
The Torah names all 42 encampments of Bnei Yisrael on their 40-year journey from the Exodus to the crossing of the Jordan river into Eretz Yisrael. Hashem commands Bnei Yisrael to drive out the Canaanites from Eretz Yisrael and to demolish every vestige of their idolatry. Bnei Yisrael are warned that if they fail to rid the land completely of the Canaanites, those who remain will be "pins in their eyes and thorns in their sides." The boundaries of the Land of Israel are defined, and the tribes are commanded to set aside 48 cities for the levi'im, who do not receive a regular portion in the division of the Land. Cities of refuge are to be established: Someone who murders unintentionally may flee there. The daughters of Tzlofchad marry members of their tribe so that their inheritance will stay in their own tribe. Thus ends the Book of Bamidbar/Numbers, the fourth of the Books of The Torah.
Insights
VENGEANCE IS WHOSE?
"G-d said to Moshe, saying, 'Take vengeance for the Children of Israel against the Midianites.' " (31:2)
A well-known Rabbi was standing in line at Customs at an airport. In front of him were two equally religious-looking gentlemen. The customs officer came over to the two and asked them if they had anything to declare. Rather nervously, they both answered in the negative. Whether it was their nervousness or some other reason, the customs officer decided to ask them to open their suitcases.
After a few seconds of careful probing, somewhat reluctantly the cases disgorged two million dollars' worth of diamonds. They lay there on the counter. Both men collapsed in tears. Not just at being caught, but at the terrible desecration of G-d's name that they had perpetrated.
The customs officer turned his attention to the next in line, the Rabbi, and asked him: "Anything to declare, sir?" He replied "No, officer." "Sir, would you mind opening your case, please." "Officer, I will happily open my case, but I think I should tell you that you are wasting your time." "Oh yes, sir. And why is that?" replied the officer, a cynical smile playing around the corner of his lips. The Rabbi continued. "Officer. I am an Orthodox Jew and the Torah strictly prohibits smuggling." see sir," said the customs officer, sarcastically. "Do you see those two religious Jewish gentlemen over there, sir? And what are those two gentlemen, sir? Martians?" Replied the Rabbi, "Which two religious gentlemen are you referring to, officer? I'm afraid I don't see religious Jews -- I see only diamond smugglers."
When an Orthodox Jew behaves in a despicable fashion, the damage is felt on the other side of the cosmos. Someone who wears a kippa is an ambassador for the Jewish People to the whole world. However, the world will judge not only Judaism based on the actions of this person. They will also judge its Author.
Everything in this world was created for the Honor of its Creator. When a person brings credit to the Jewish People, he also brings Honor to the One who chose us from all the peoples -- he fulfills his purpose and the purpose of Creation itself. If he does the reverse, G-d forbid, he both writes himself out of reality and damages the whole cosmos. He blemishes Creation more than all the world's crude-oil spills and atomic melt-downs.
But there's another side to chilul Hashem (desecrating G-d's Name). When a Jew sees or hears someone doing an unspeakable act, he thinks to himself: "How could he have done that?! I would never do such a thing in a million years. You know something -- I'm not such a bad person after all. I'm really a tzadik. My small transgressions are nothing compared with this guy's. You know something -- I'm really a big tzadik!"
It takes a lifetime's work to correct the flaws in our character, both big and small. The only way we have a hope of improving ourselves is to sensitize ourselves to our shortcomings and realize that we have a long way to go. When someone behaves immoraly, it makes us think that we are really okay because we would never sink to that level -- and thus we give up trying to be better. As a result, not only do we suffer, but the whole world becomes a darker place because we have given up on the light.
In this week's Torah portion, there is an interesting anomaly. In one verse, G-d says, "Take vengeance for the Children of Israel against the Midianites.'" And in the next verse, Moshe directs the Jewish People "to inflict Hashem's vengeance against Midian." Which is it? Is it G-d's vengeance or is it ours?
The answer is that at the deepest level, the Jewish People and G-d are one. When we blemish the good name of the Jewish People, we cause a diminution of G-d's light in the world. And when we do something that brings credit to the Jews, we bring the whole of mankind closer to G-d.
Sources: Rabbi Mordechai Perlman and others
Haftara
Yirmiyahu 2:4 - 2:28, 3:4
"Shimu Dvar Hashem" is the second haftara in the "Three-of-Affliction" trilogy read between 17 Tammuz and 9 Av. In it, Yirmiyahu laments the double wrong committed by the Jewish People: They have forsaken the Living G-d, and they have sought after many useless gods.
This week's haftara continues last week's in which Yirmiyahu protests his Divine appointment as rebuker of the Jews. Yet, say our Sages, Yirmiyahu, as a descendant of Rachav, was ironically fit for this purpose. Rachav was a less-than-reputable "inn-keeper." Yet, she repented: She harbored Israel's spies, aided them in their conquest of Canaan, and eventually converted to Judaism. "Yirmiyahu is the son of a disreputable woman, yet his deeds are righteous: Let him come and rebuke the Jewish people, who are the children of the righteous Yaakov, and yet their deeds are evil."
Rashi
  Selections from classical Torah sources which express the special relationship between the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael GUSH CHALAV A major Jewish center in Upper Galilee in older times, Gush Chalav is now a Maronite village. Known in Latin as Giscala and in Arabic as Jish, the Hebrew name (Block of Milk) indicates that it was located in very fertile surroundings. Yochanan Gush Chalav was one of the leaders of the Jewish revolt against the Romans. In a small domed building on the outskirts of the village are the tombs of two great Talmudic sages, Shemaya and Avtalyon, and in the small valley to the east are the relics of an ancient synagogue dating back some 1700 years. |
Written and Compiled by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Michael Treblow
© 2000 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.
Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.
The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.
Copyright © 2000 Ohr Somayach International.
Send us Feedback.Dedication opportunities are available for Torah Weekly. Please contact us for details.
