Parashat Matot-Massei

This week we conclude the book of Bamidbar (Numbers) with the reading of the double portion of Matot and Massei. Among the many themes discussed in this week’s portion, we read the story of the Tribes of Reuben and Gad asking Moses for permission to stay on the east side of the Jordan river so that they can raise their sheep. Moses agrees to their request, but it is decided that they must still cross the Jordan to participate in the conquest of the Promise Land, and then they may settle where they wish.

No one seems to bat an eye at the request to stay outside of the Promise Land. But wasn't the entire point of the Exodus to settle in the Promised Land? Would it have been just as acceptable if these two tribes had opted to return to Egypt after assisting in the conquest? What happened to the commandment of settling in Israel? How could people on the spiritual level of the desert generation decide to voluntarily trade spiritual potential for livestock? And how could Moses and the elders support such a plan outright, without making the slightest attempt to dissuade them from such apparent madness, or at the very least consult with God before reaching agreement? Why do we not find the slightest degree of criticism about this transaction in the Torah?

Judaism teaches that everything in the universe only exists by virtue of the fact that it can be used as a vehicle for sanctifying God's Name. It is the responsibility of every Jew to sanctify G-d’s name, but every Jewish soul was sent to this world having been assigned a particular way of sanctifying G-d’s name. Some souls do this through charitable work, others through leadership, some through military prowess, some through teaching, and other through the raising of livestock.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad made their request because they knew (and Moses understood) that their souls were intended to sanctify G-d’s name through raising sheep. (After all, many of the most important people in Jewish history were shepherds.) Not only were the lands of the east side of the Jordan ideal for shepherding, but the Torah forbids the raising of sheep inside the land of Israel.

Reuben and Gad did not choose to live outside of Israel in hopes of a better life, they chose to live there because they knew that that’s where they believed they could best sanctify G-d’s name.

In the world of today, the decision to remain in other countries rather than move to the land of Israel is a voluntary one. Whoever chooses to remain in the lands of exile because he feels that he can do a better job of collecting his holy sparks there is committing no fault.

But whoever chooses to voluntarily remain there because his standard of living would be higher, needs to question their priorities. If a correct system of priorities would place a person in Israel, where it is easier to form a more powerful connection with God, then that person is clearly losing out by staying put.

I count myself among those who may need to reexamine my priorities.

Shabbat Shalom