Parshas Massei 5765

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

Concluding the book of Bamidbar, the Torah offers an account of the Jewish people’s journey throughout their forty-year trek in the Wilderness. All the forty-two encampments are mentioned, not merely as a historical narration, but to teach different lessons. Each encampment represented another stage of redemption from Egypt, and one step of preparation closer to their entering the Promised Land. The people had to be cleansed of the negative effects of their slavery in Egypt in order to be deserving of living a life of holiness in G-d’s special Land. Recalling each stop allowed the people to reflect on each spiritual accomplishment.

The people were also given instructions regarding the Land and its boundaries. In what was the first example of zoning laws, they were told that each city was to be divided into three parts. The inner area would be residential. An outer area would be left open for recreation, and outside of that would be an agricultural area. This would guarantee an even distribution of the population and address the different needs.

One of commandments given to Moshe was the designation of the Orei Miklat, the Cities of Refuge. These cities served as refuge for the unintentional murderer. There were six equidistant cities spread throughout Israel; three in the mainland and three in the trans-Jordanian side of the country. The Levite cities also served as Cities of Refuge. The murderer had to stay within the city or risk the vengeance of the victim’s relatives.

The murderer had to stay there until the death of the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest. The Talmud explains this connection, because had the leader of the generation been on a proper spiritual level, occurrences such as accidental murders would not have happened. Although the death was not caused through malice or intent, with proper caution it could have been prevented. This absence of caution is a result of society’s lack of appreciation for the value of human life. The leadership must take responsibility for this failure.

One of the reasons why the murderer was required to live among the Levites, was to expose him to people who had dedicated their lives to spirituality. Hopefully, this would sensitize him to become a more responsible human being.

This protection for the murderer was considered so great, that Moshe himself designated the three cities on the trans-Jordanian side, despite the fact that they would not take effect until many years later, after the land was completely conquered.

“These are the journeys of the Children of Israel when they left Egypt...and these were their journeys according to their goings forth..” (Numbers 33:1-2)

The Skulener Rebbe notes that this portion is always read during the three-week period of mourning for the Temple’s destruction. This reminds us that in the same way all forty-two encampments were part of the journey to the Land of Israel, all our wanderings in exile are also part of our ultimate journey to Israel.

A Jew must never make himself too comfortable in exile. Rav Nachman of Breslov would say , “Wherever I go, I’m on my way to Jerusalem.”

Did You Know...

During the Nine Days preceding Tisha B’Av all joy should be curtailed. The custom is refrain from eating meat or fowl products, as well as drinking wine and grape juice. On Shabbos, or at a mitzvah occasion such as a circumcision or a siyum celebration made upon completing a volume of the Talmud, the participants may eat meat.

At the conclusion of Shabbos, for the Havdalah service, either beer should be used instead of wine, or else the wine or grape juice should be given to a 6-8 year old child to drink. If neither is feasible, one may drink the wine himself.

Food cooked in a meat pot may be eaten, however soup in which meat was cooked may not be eaten, even if the meat was removed.