Parshat Matos-Masei
July 25th-26th, 2003
26 Tammuz, 5763

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

"These are the journeys of the Children of Israel, who went forth from the Land of Egypt according to their legions, under the hand of Moshe and Aharon." (33, 1)


At the start of the second of the two portions this week (that conclude the Book of Bamidbar/Numbers), the Torah lists the 42 journeys the Jewish people made in the course of their 40 years in the Sinai wilderness. All of the places at which they encamped are listed by name--both those where well-known events took place (explicitly described elsewhere in the Torah), as well as obscure locales (Punon, Ovos, Risah) of which we know very little.

It is certainly reasonable to inquire why the Torah bothers to list by name all of these encampments. (We can be sure that Hashem did not intend to author the definitive travel guide--or hiking manual--for Sinai tourists.) As I always like to remind my readers (and myself), "Torah" means, "instruction," and our Sages and commentators throughout the millennia have shown us that every verse (if not word or letter) of the Five Books contains precious instruction and guidance for our lives as Jews and human beings. If so, what instruction can we take away from this catalogue?

The S’fas Emes offers some beautiful ideas on the subject, including ones that are appropriate for the difficult period of the calendar year--the "three weeks," recalling many tragic events in our history, and culminating in the fast of the 9th of Av--in which we find ourselves now.

He notes that the verse quoted above specifically links the journeys to the Exodus ("who went forth from the Land of Egypt"). Just as the Exodus was the original, and prototypical, salvation of the Jewish people, whose continuing importance is reflected in our daily obligation to mention (and, thereby, recall) it, so too the journeys/encampments have a continuing importance for us as examples of divine salvation as well! Remember that these were all dangerous journeys and places, and, indeed, the Torah (in Devarim/Deuteronomy) exhorts us to recall G-d’s kindness in guiding us safely through their hazards:

"You shall remember the entire road on which Hashem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the Wilderness so as to afflict you, to test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would observe His commandments or not." (Devarim: 8, 2; my emphasis)

" Take care lest you forget Hashem, your G-d, by not observing His commandments…Who took you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, Who leads you through the great and fearful wilderness—of snake,
fiery serpent, and scorpion, and thirst, where there was no water…" (Devarim: 8, 11 & 15; my emphasis)

These places collectively represent, the S’fas Emes explains, a spiritual preparation (hachanah) for the Jewish people--and for each Jewish individual--to be able to cope with all the tza’aros, all the "difficult places," that would come upon us in the course of our history. Since Hashem led the Children of Israel successfully through that great and fearful wilderness, we are meant to learn (and gain strength from the knowledge) that we can successfully cope with our own difficulties. We must "remember the entire road," the entire hard and rocky road, on which Hashem led us after leaving Egypt whenever we are confronted with hard and rocky sections (or potholes) in our own journeys.

This does not mean, of course, that by simply remembering the journeys of our ancestors, we will be immediately granted whatever outcome we wish for in our present (worrisome) situations. When I said, "successfully cope with our difficulties," I did not mean that we are guaranteed to magically escape them! The S’fas Emes explains that "success" in this context means the ability to connect with Hashem from the very midst of the difficulties (through calling out to Him "from the straits," as King David wrote). "Success," in the spiritual sense, means to sense His guidance and love even when His face seems to be hidden. (The Psalms offer countless examples of David’s ability to reach out to--and to reach--Hashem in the darkest and most perilous moments.)

We are meant to see all of life’s difficulties as spiritual opportunities to grow as people and as Jews. Indeed, this is really the whole point of the difficulties themselves! This is why Hashem sends the roadblocks, potholes, annoying detours, etc. onto our paths in the first place! They are not random accidents, not "rotten luck." Rather, they are specifically CHOSEN for us by the One of Infinite Wisdom--to challenge (or "test") us to grow into the most spiritually elevated individuals we can become. Our very "crying out," our attempt to reach out to Hashem and to see His light in the darkness, is the beginning of redemption. As one of the verses quoted above states openly: "You shall remember the entire road on which Hashem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the Wilderness so as to afflict you, to test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would observe His commandments or not."

This is an important lesson for us as we cope with our own tribulations as individuals, and for us as a nation during the period of the three weeks. The sufferings we’ve endured in our long exile have been--and are-- part of the entire road on which Hashem leads us. We have the spiritual strength, loyalty and stubbornness within our souls ("a stiff-necked nation") to stand up to whatever befalls us. What’s more, we have been blessed with the guidance and reassurance of the Torah itself to help us on our road.

Each place name mentioned in this Torah portion represents a specific station on our journey as a people, a specific "spiritual battle" (writes the S’fas Emes) we were meant to fight to help us become great. So, too, every individual situation in which we find ourselves represents (in a sense) a unique "spiritual battle," an opportunity to strengthen ourselves in faith and loyalty to G-d (and His Torah), and to subdue--or transcend--some aspect of our "evil inclination (yetzer ha’ra)," and become more holy people.

Time for me to get back on the road, as it were. May we all joyously proceed (and succeed) on our respective Heaven-sent journeys. Shabbos, you should know, is a blessed day of delights, and of rest (menucha), that can immeasurably help us in attaining the proper spiritual perspective (and in regaining the proper strength) for our important travels. So please do take full advantage of it.

GOOD SHABBOS!

My e-mail address is yosefe@comcast.net

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Rabbi Yosef Edelstein, Savannah Kollel. Phone: 912-351-0469; fax: 354-9923