Parashat Matot-Masei 5785

by Rabbi Margie Cella

This week’s double parashah concludes the book of Numbers. The nation of Israel prepared to take possession of Canaan. The tribes of Reuven and Gad and the half-tribe of Manassah realized that the land that they had just conquered, on the other side of the Jordan River, was lush and suitable for grazing animals. They therefore approached Moses to request permission to be given this land as their portion, since they had large numbers of cattle. Moses was initially angered by this request, accusing them of separating from the nation. In response, they promised to be shock-troops for the nation. They would be the first line of defense, leaving their homes to defend the nation. They declared that they would not return to their homes and their children “until every one of the Israelites is in possession of his portion.” (Numbers 32:18) Based on this promise, Moses granted their request, warning that failure to come to the aid of the rest of the nation as they had promised would be a sin against God with dire consequences. In response, the Gadites and Reubenites restated their pledge. To demonstrate their sincerity, they offered the following as their assurance: “our children, our wives, our flocks . . . will stay behind . . . ” (32:26) while the men would cross over to engage in battle. With this, they showed that they had complete faith that they would return to the land. Their bond to the land and the nation was strong.

We live on the other side of the Atlantic instead of the Jordan. Yet many of us feel that same bond even today, especially if we have been privileged to visit Israel. This bond has become even stronger during the last 21 months. Oseh Shalom, Maker of peace, may we soon see peace for our beloved Eretz Israel.