MASEI “Journeys”

30 JULY 2011

Short summary from chapters 33:1 thru 36:13:

The boundaries of Eretz Israel

The Leadership

Cities for Levites

Cities of Refuge for Unintentional Killing

Tribal Inheritance

This week we end our reading of the book of Numbers. The sages of old placed it at this time of year, before Tisha B’Av (9^th of Av).

We have followed the wandering of the children of Israel forty years in the wilderness. They went through many hardships mainly because of their own lack of faith in GOD who strengthens all who trust in Him.  We see a people who begin their journey with sin and rebellion and end with a people who enter the land faithful to the Holy One (GOD).  They see the promises of GOD coming into fruition.

Nehama Leibowitz, a biblical scholar, wrote that Israel’s journeys during times of rebellion and times of faithfulness reflect the journeys of the Jewish people thru the centuries.  They keep to their faith as a people who were called by GOD to be a light unto the nations by maintaining their uniqueness as a separate and distinct people.  She writes, “We have been shown an Israel composed of rebels and grumblers, having degenerated from the lofty spiritual plane of their selfish passions, ungrateful and quarrelsome, harkening after the fleshpots, the onions and garlic of Egypt.  Now the Torah changes its note and shows the other side of the picture, Israel loyal to their trust, following their God through the wilderness in a land that was not sown (Jeremiah 2).  They followed Him in spite of all odds, through the wilderness of Sinai, the wilderness of Etham, the wilderness of Paran, and the wilderness of Zin as well as through the wilderness of ages, where our continued existence would have been impossible, were it not for the grace of God which ceased not.” [Quoted from; First Fruits of Zion Torah Club]

The Torah, which is read year after year, gives us not only the history of GOD’s people but a reminder of the grace and mercy that GOD gives to His people.  Today GOD has given grace and mercy to those who were once disobedient and rebellious toward Him; for the calling and gifts of GOD are irrevocable, to all who put their trust in GOD and do not turn back toward Egypt but look forward to the Promised Land.

Finally, as we look forward to the book of Deuteronomy, let us live according to His Word and be strengthened.  We end by these words, as always when we finish the final Parasha in the book:

Chazak! Chazak! Venitchazeik! Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z