Shoshana Zive - Dvar Torah

Shabbat Shalom, the Torah portion this week is Matot-Masei and comes from the book of Numbers. It starts with the tribes of Reuben and Gad asking Moses, and the leaders of the

assembly, that they be allowed to stay on the other side of the Jordan and not have to enter into the Land of Israel.

The reason they give for their request is that the land they are camped on is perfect for livestock which we are told they had an abundance of. Living on a farm I know that nothing makes my horses, cow and sheep happier than lovely green grass to graze on so was this not a reasonable request?

When studying for my Batmitzvah Rabbi Malcolm taught me that questions such as this one are best answered when having a broader knowledge of the Torah. By looking back at the story of the 12 spies it helped me to understand Moses’s strong rebuke as he warns them against

making the same mistake as their Fathers when 10 of the 12 spies reported that the land of Canaan could not be conquered. While the spies were overcome with fear and Reuben and Gad with materialism both show a lack of trust and faith in G-ds promise of taking the nation of Israel into the Holy Land.

We all have moments when we make wrong decisions and after a strong reprimand it is easy to not accept it, even if you know the people pointing out your mistake care about you. In this instance Reuben and Gad immediately show a change of heart and commit to leading the

Nation of Israel into battle.

It is because of this change of heart that G-d ultimately allowed them to return to the other side of the Jordan but not before Moses taught them another lesson but this time is a more subtle way, so subtle in fact that I would have totally missed it had the Rabbi not pointed it out to me.

Reuben and Gad explain to Moses that they will not abandon their responsibilities but ask to return to the east side of the Jordan where they will build pens for their livestock and cities for their children. Notice that they mention their animals before their family.

Moses agrees provided they fight for G-d and help the nation to settle securely in Israel, but when he answers them he switches the words livestock and children around by saying, “Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for your flock.” In doing so he teaches them, and all of us, a very important lesson to always put our families first before our possessions.

Showing that they understood what their priorities should be Reuben answered with, “Our small children, our wives, our livestock and all our animals will be there in the cities of Gilead.”

This Torah portion has taught me that we all have an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. That great teaches and leaders sometimes need to be stern, especially when we are about to make a big mistake, while at other times when our hearts are more open a subtle correction is all we need.

And above all to put the promises of G-d first.