This short, practical Lelamed Dvar is also available in your local App
Store (iTunes and Android). I hope you enjoy...
After Moshe lost an entire generation of Jews because they resisted
entering the land of Israel, in Parshat Matot they seem to be doing the
exact same thing. As they prepare to enter the land, the shevatim (tribes)
of Reuven and Gad approach Moshe with a similar request. This time they
claim to want to “build for their flocks and cities for the small children”
(32:16). After warning them not to make the same mistake as the previous
generation, Moshe agrees to let them live outside of the Promised Land, but
appears to bargain with them by getting them to agree to help the others
fight for the land first. Why did Moshe agree to let them live outside of
the promised land, and what did he bargain for?
A closer inspection of the dialogue helps us answer these questions, and
can help us understand the importance of setting priorities. When Moshe
responds to them (32:24), he tells them to “build for yourselves cities for
your small children and pens for your flocks”, exactly the opposite order
in which they asked. What Moshe was really telling them was that if they’re
really looking out for the well-being of their children, then look after
them (i.e. their perspectives) before building yourselves cities and
buildings. This can also be why he allowed them to settle outside the Land
altogether: Moshe understood that it wasn’t that the tribes lacked faith in
their destiny, because they were willing to fight for it with everyone
else, but rather that from their perspective living right outside the Land
would be better for them logistically. Being able to accept other
perspectives, despite initial fears and uncertainties, is the true test of
being a thoughtful Jew, a positive parent and an understanding person.
Shlomo Ressler
Quotation of the Week:
“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counter counts." - Albert Einstein
This short, practical Lelamed Dvar is also available in your local App
Store (iTunes and Android). I hope you enjoy...
_______________________________________________
After Moshe lost an entire generation of Jews because they resisted
entering the land of Israel, in Parshat Matot they seem to be doing the
exact same thing. As they prepare to enter the land, the shevatim (tribes)
of Reuven and Gad approach Moshe with a similar request. This time they
claim to want to “build for their flocks and cities for the small children”
(32:16). After warning them not to make the same mistake as the previous
generation, Moshe agrees to let them live outside of the Promised Land, but
appears to bargain with them by getting them to agree to help the others
fight for the land first. Why did Moshe agree to let them live outside of
the promised land, and what did he bargain for?
A closer inspection of the dialogue helps us answer these questions, and
can help us understand the importance of setting priorities. When Moshe
responds to them (32:24), he tells them to “build for yourselves cities for
your small children and pens for your flocks”, exactly the opposite order
in which they asked. What Moshe was really telling them was that if they’re
really looking out for the well-being of their children, then look after
them (i.e. their perspectives) before building yourselves cities and
buildings. This can also be why he allowed them to settle outside the Land
altogether: Moshe understood that it wasn’t that the tribes lacked faith in
their destiny, because they were willing to fight for it with everyone
else, but rather that from their perspective living right outside the Land
would be better for them logistically. Being able to accept other
perspectives, despite initial fears and uncertainties, is the true test of
being a thoughtful Jew, a positive parent and an understanding person.
Shlomo Ressler
_______________________________________________
Quotation of the Week:
“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be
counter counts." - Albert Einstein
