28 Elul 5770
September 7 2010
     

 

  
Mattot U'Massei
 
A first in a long time - a double parsha world wide! Both Israel and the Diaspora will be reading the parshas of Mattot and Massei this Shabbat.
 
Mattot begins with a slew of rules concerning vows. The short version is: Don’t make vows, and anything that you do commit to must be honored. That’s a big one, you know. (cf. Hatarat Nedarim, Kol Nidrei, both of which are coming soon)
The parsha also details the war on the Midianites - but I don’t want to write about that. I’m up to my head in the present war with the Hezbollaites. One important rule emerging from the Midinaite war though - toiveling dishes. That’s right, make no mistake, it is (according to most) a BIBLICAL prohibition to eat off dishes that have not been immersed in a mikva. It’s never too late - dishes can be immersed at any time, even if you’ve been using them for years.
Ruvain and Gad - Haredi Draft Dodgers?
The tribes of Ruvain and Gad wanted to settle and remain on the east side of the Jordan River and not enter into Israel-proper with everyone else. Moshe opposed this idea fearing that it would kill the morale of the rest of the nation if two tribes excluded themselves from the war effort. The solution: They were to join in the conquest of the land like everyone else, and only later were they to settle in the Transjordan. Everyone came out satisfied. It is a concept and arrangement that some religious leaders may be well advised to consider.
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Massei is actually a fun parsha to follow as the Jewish people travel the many station en route to Israel. In fact, some of the 42 stations of their journey may sound familiar to many - especially those who enjoy the famous Yotvata chocolate milk.
Something to Think About
We know that one of the stations in the parsha, Etzion Gaver, is identified with Eilat. Considering that we are all aware that Moshe was not permitted to enter the land of Israel how is it possible that he traveled through Eilat and other environs which are within the borders of today’s State of Israel? There are a number of answers to this question.
BONUS: Knowing the Land
While everyone is always quick to identify Massada as the central station of the Roman-Jewish wars, Massada was but one of several fronts.
It was Yodfat in the Galilee that was the first to show the toughest resistance to the Romans during the Great Revolt. In fact, the battles of Yodfat were the largest and fiercest-second only in size to the struggle for Jerusalem! It was in this battle and from this city that Yosef ben Mattityahu quickly changed allegiances and become ‘Josephus’ - the famous historian who authoritative records considerably compliment our Talmudic records and understanding of everything during that era.
Similar to Masada, there was a very large contingent of those who took suicide over captivity.
  
 

 

 

  
           
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