Parashat Matot Massei

Parasha Thoughts

Shlomo Zargari

By: Rabbi Shlomo Zargari

Shalom. In the Parasha this week we read about the travels of our nation through the Wilderness. One of the verses which repeats itself is :”The Children of Israel journeyed from…and camped in… “

Rabenu Bahyah ben Asher (14th century) writes in his book(Kad Hakemah): ” The Torah wants us to remember the miracles that Hashem performed for us in the Wilderness, how he sustained us 40 years and gave us the Manna every day! And so that one shouldn’t think they were close to water or places they could get supplies, the Torah writes the names of all the places they camped in…”

He continues: “Even though they were to stay in the Wilderness, they weren’t traveling the whole time. It was only 42 stops in 40 years.” And he explains that every stop was by the command of Hashem, to be precisely at that particular spot and at that time and for how long. This was in order to remove the ideas that were picked up by us from Egypt and to prepare us to enter the Holy Land.

That is a lesson for us. In life, every thing we do and everywhere we end up is through Hashem’s grand plan and providence to give us the opportunity to come closer to Him by removing evil from ourselves and adhering to the Misvot. He continues: “The future Redemption will be similar to the Redemption from Egypt. Just as at that time we journeyed through the Wilderness through the camps designated by Hashem, HE will guide us through this “Wilderness” to our final redemption,AMEN.

Shabat Shalom

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