Dear Friends,
At the end of Matot, the first of the two Torah portions that we read from this Shabbat, the Israelites are camped at the edge of the Jordan River and are preparing to enter the land of Israel. Somewhat surprisingly, two and half tribes tell Moses that they do not want to go. They would rather settle on the east side of the river, rather than settle in the promised land. At first, Moses is bothered by their request. The traditional Rabbis make it very clear that living in the land of Israel is a mitzvah, and the desire of these tribes to settle elsewhere seems to undermine that commandment. But ultimately, Moses comes around. The tribes promise that even though they will not be living and raising their families in the land of Israel, they will always come to its defense. Their support for their brothers and sisters, from the outside, will ultimately be critical in the development of Israel, and the success of the Jewish people.
Israel is a complicated place. And it seems that increasingly over the past few years, tension has been brewing between Jews who live In Israel and those who do not. Support of Israel can manifest itself in many ways. For some it's by living in and working the land. For others, it means providing financial assistance, supporting Israeli businesses, taking advantage of or creating opportunities for education and engagement, or grappling with difficult issues and offering constructive feedback and guidance. Whatever support may mean to you, one of the things that we learn from our Torah portion this week is the importance for Jews, everywhere, to support the Jewish state.
Which is why as we navigate what seems to be one of the most tense periods in history in the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, we should do what we can do, from wherever we are, to support Israel and strengthen the Jewish homeland and the Jewish people.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh Dorsch
