Matot-Massei
This week, we read two Torah portions, Matot and Massei.
Moses conveys the laws governing the annulment of vows to the heads of the tribes of Israel. War is waged against Midian and the Torah provides a detailed recounting of how the spoils were divided amongst the Jews.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad ask for the lands east of the Jordan as their portion in the Promised Land. Moses is initially angered by the request, but subsequently agrees on the condition that they first join, in Israel’s conquest of the lands west of the Jordan.
The forty-two journeys and encampments of Israel are listed. The boundaries of the Promised Land are given, and cities of refuge are designated as havens for inadvertent murderers. The daughters of Tzelafchad marry within their own tribe of Manasseh, to keep their estate within their family.
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Rosh Chodesh Av: Nine Days
On shabbat is Rosh Chodesh Av. This day marks the beginning of the nine days leading up to the 9th of Av, the saddest day in th Jewish calendar, the day the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed. The final Nine Days of the Three Weeks are a time of intensified mourning. Starting on the first of Av, we refrain from eating meat or drinking wine, and from wearing freshly laundered clothes.
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A Nation's Return to G‑d
This week’s haftorah is the second of a series of three “haftarot of affliction.” These three haftarot are read during the Three Weeks.
The prophet Jeremiah transmits G‑d’s message to the Jewish people, in strong tones chastising all the sectors of the people, for their abandonment of G‑d. He reminds them of the kindness G‑d did for them, taking them out of Egypt and leading them through the desert and settling them in the Promised Land, yet they repaid kindness with disloyalty.
Jeremiah then goes on to foretell the suffering the Jewish people will suffer at the hands of their enemies, and also their erstwhile allies. The haftorah ends on an encouraging note, assuring the people that if they return to G‑d with sincerity, they will be restored to their full glory.
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Rebuilding the Holy Temple
There is more to the Three Weeks than fasting and lamentation. Our sages tell us that those who mourn the destruction of Jerusalem will merit seeing it rebuilt with the coming of Moshiach. Furthermore, through learning about the structure, function and significance of the Holy Temple at this time of year, it's as if we are actually rebuilding it.
May that day come soon, and then all the mournful dates on the calendar will be transformed into days of tremendous joy and happiness.
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A Nation's Return to G‑d
Our Parsha opens, "These are the journeys of the children of Israel." However, it then proceeds to recount the 42 encampments at which they stopped during their wanderings in the Sinai Desert!
But these encampments were not ends unto themselves - only way-stations and stepping stones to advance the nation of Israel in their goal of attaining the Promised Land. So the stops themselves are referred to as "journeys".
Once Rabbi Hillel of Paritch was struck with an immense longing to spend Shabbos with his Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch. But to realize this desire was quite another matter: it was already late in the week, and the distance from Babroisk to Lubavitch was formidable.
But then a young chassid offered to make the trip. His sleek new coach and superb horses could do the job, he insisted. However, time was of supreme essence. So Reb Hillel must agree to two condition: they would take the highway and Rabbi Hillel would not take too much time with his prayers. Under the circumstances, Reb Hillel agreed.
That night they slept at a wayside inn. In the morning, the young fellow prayed and breakfasted and then looked in on Reb Hillel. Still praying. Hours went by, and still the elder chassid continued to pour out his heart before his Creator.
When Reb Hillel finally finished, his companion was quite upset: "I don't understand - you wanted to spend Shabbos with the Rebbe, and you promised to hurry with your prayers. Now you've ruined all our chances of reaching Lubavitch on time!"
Answered Reb Hillel: "Say you wished to journey to the Leipzig fair to purchase some rare merchandise, available nowhere else. But on the way you met another merchant, who is offering the very same wares at a good price. Only a fool would say: 'But I must go to Leipzig!' The purpose of the journey is not some town or another, but the sought-after merchandise.
"Why does one go to the Rebbe, if to not seek his counsel concerning the 'service of the heart', if not to learn how to arouse oneself to the love and awe of G‑d in prayer? So if on the way to Lubavitch my praying goes well, should I dump the merchandise and run to Leipzig?"
