Dear Friends,
The second of the two Torah portions that we read this week, Masei, reads a bit like a travel log. It records the journey that the Israelites took when they wandered in the desert. There are no details, anecdotes, or stories provided about what happened on the journey, just a list of all the places that the Israelites camped, and how long they stayed. It is formulaic, repetitive, and seems somewhat redundant and unnecessary. This prompts questions as to why the Torah deemed it necessary to list all of the places on route to the Promised Land.
One of my favorite answers to this question, from the Iturei Torah, suggests that this record was needed so that the Israelites would remember their journey. Once living as a free people, in the land flowing with milk and honey, they would forget where they came from, all of the places they had been, the challenges that they faced. As a result, they would take the freedoms and prosperity that they had amassed for granted.
Like the Israelites, we are in the midst of what is undoubtedly a difficult journey. What we are going through is tough, but also transformative. It is pushing us to reevaluate our values and change our perspective.
One day, hopefully sooner rather than later, we will reach our Promised Land. It is my hope that like the Israelites, we will be able to remember the places we have been, the struggles we have had. Doing so will encourage us to appreciate and be thankful for the blessings in our lives.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and peaceful Shabbat,
Rabbi Josh Dorsch
