VOLUME 111 NUMBER 9
Tamuz 27, 5784
August 2, 2024
PARSHAS MATTOS-MASEI
Candlelighting Time 7:53 PM

            The tribes of Gad and Reuven approached Moshe with a startling proposition. They wanted to remain outside the mainland of Israel and take advantage of the tremendous pasture for their flock. The request seemed simple enough if not somewhat surprising that they would opt to forfeit the opportunity to be within the confines of Eretz Yisroel where one would assume that the Divine Presence is more extant. However, even more unexpected is Moshe’s response. He accuses them of a repetition of the episode of the spies that caused such an upheaval decades earlier. Of course, after Moshe’s accusatory statement they agreed to follow the other tribes into battle and stay with them until the land was divided and totally settled. Why did Moshe accuse them of foul play before they even had a chance to clarify their stance?

            Kli Yakar notes a remarkably interesting detail when the two tribes confronted Moshe. The tribe of Reuven represented the eldest son of Yaakov while Gad was from the youngest. Why did the tribe of Gad have the audacity to speak before the members of the older tribe? In an exceptionally long dissertation supported by a Midrash the opulence of Gad was a driving force that convinced them that they had the right to state their position in advance of the other tribe. Indeed when they answered Moshe they responded that their portion had come to them on the other side of the Jordan River. More correctly they should have said they desired to receive their portion in that area. The syntax of their assertion strongly implied that they deserved that area. Kli Yakar explains that the tribe of Gad had tremendous wealth due to their huge flock which greatly exceeded that of Reuven. Therefore, besides their assumed position of authority due to their affluence they also automatically presumed that the additional flock that was present in the captured territory was their’s for the taking consequentially ensuring that they had a right for that land. Quite a land grab if there ever was one!

            The Berditchever Rebbe once spoke to a very wealthy man who was not fulfilling his obligation of giving tzedakah. He invited him to look out the window of his home in the street and tell him what he saw. He responded that he was viewing a beautiful sight of men and women strolling with their children enjoying the afternoon. Then he asked him to look in the mirror and tell him what he was looking at. He only saw himself. The Rebbe commented that when you take a bit of nickel, a metal, and rub it on a plane of glass one only sees himself. Of course, the point was clear and obvious. The ruinous nature of money to distort one’s vision and corrupt a person’s perspective is well understood.

            Tzror Hamor adds an interesting point to this occurrence. Moshe lashed out at them immediately when they refused to settle in the mainland of Eretz Yisroel. Deciding to settle across the Jordan indicated a dislike for Eretz Yisroel. The commentators explain that the spies despised the land which led to their attempt to dissuade the people from entering. The aftershocks of that episode created quite a stir and we observe Tisha B’av as a direct result of the tears that were shed displaying their refusal to abide by Hashem’s guarantee that the land of Israel was indeed good for them and that they should go there. This seemingly innocuous request was actually a pointed statement asserting their repugnance of the land. Therefore, Moshe responded intensely to diffuse the potential danger. Again their motivation for economic success drove them to ignore the advantage of setting in Israel where the presence of Hashem was truly existent.

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

The Torah records the 42 travellings that the nation journeyed on in the desert. Were they significant for future reference? Indeed, when Hashem took us out from bondage in Egypt we distanced ourselves from that which is harmful to our spirit. However, service to Hashem is coupled with acts of devoutness. Each of the travels indicated attainment of a higher level of proximity to Hashem.

S’FAS EMES

GOOD SHABBOS

IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE ENTER INTO THE PERIOD REFERRED TO AS THE ‘NINE DAYS’, THE MORE INTENSE PERIOD OF MOURNING PRECEDING TISHA B’AV. WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO CRITICALLY LIMIT OUR EXPRESSION OF SIMCHA BE IT REGARDING BUSINESS OR GATHERINGS THAT ARE PRIMARILY FOR THAT PURPOSE. WE ATTEMPT TO SENSITIVE OURSELVES APPRECIATING THE LOSS OF THE BEIS HAMIKDASH. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF OUR LIVES, WE UNFORTUNATELY BECOME INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. WILL HARRIS BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND CAN TRUMP BEAT HER? SLOWLY THE LOSS OF THE BEIS HAMIKDASH IS LOST IN A WORLD OF NONSENSE AND GIBBERISH. LET US MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOURN THE CAUSE OF ALL OF OUR TROUBLES AND IY’H WE WILL MERIT SOON AND IN OUR DAYS THE REBUILDING OF THE BEIS HAMIKDASH.