Lead Tidbit
The Fork in the Road
In the Word of the Month (page 2), an interesting observation is made: The sedra of the week and the calendar date, Rosh Chodesh Av match up, in that the Torah mentions Aharon's death which took place on Rosh Chodesh Av. When the Torah first told us of his death, back in Parshat Chukat, the date was not mentioned. In Mas'ei, among the places of encampment mentioned, there is reference to Hor HaHar and what happened there... and when. The only yahrzeit mentioned in the Torah. If the Shabbat we read Mas'ei is not Rosh Chodesh Av, then it's close.

The synchronization of Sedra and Calendar all the more noteworthy because of the different directions the Sedra and the Calendar take. We can look at Shabbat Parshat Mas'ei - Rosh Chodesh as a fork in the road. Which way shall we go?

The Calendar points us in the direction of the Nine Days and Tish'a b'Av. Towards destruction and exile. Away from Eretz Yisrael.

The sedra recounts the travels of the People of Israel from Egypt towards the Land of Israel. The sedra includes the command to occupy the Land and dwell in it.

The mitzva to live in Eretz Yisrael. Ramban counts it from Parshat Mas'ei, as one of the Torah's 613 mitzvot. The sedra gives us the borders of Eretz Yisrael and encourages complete conquest and settlement.

Doesn't sound like much of a choice, this fork in the road. Destruction and Exile or building and living in Eretz Yisrael. That is, building physically and spiritually. Eretz Yisrael without Torah is like a body without a soul. Somebody said that, and there is even a song with words to that effect. There is a lot of building to do. That is the direction the sedra is pointing us in. The whole future lies ahead.

On the other hand, "as Av enters we reduce our joy" is not a done deal. We hope and pray - and work towards - the time when the Fast days will become Yamim Tovim, speedily in our time, AMEN.