Matot

I’ve spent the last week working on my kibbutz’s vineyard in 40 degree heat, getting dirty, working hard, settling Hashem’s land. I never thought of myself as a physical laborer but working outside in Eretz Yisrael is a whole other type of experience. I have never felt so productive and Zionistic. No matter how many times you are stung by wasps, or how sweaty and dehydrated you are, all you have to do is look out at Mount Gilboa or Shomron and realize that all your work is worth it. You are achieving the Jewish dream. All of this comes at a time when Eretz Yisrael finds itself at war with Hamas. Baruch Hashem for a Jewish state that protects its citizens and even goes out of its way to protect the people of Gaza that have the unfortunate circumstance of living in a piece of land controlled by a terrorist organization. Israel really is the promised land…so as I read this week’s parsha (Matot) I was confused as to why the tribes of Gad and Reuven asked to settle East of the Jordan rather than continue onwards to Canaan.

Well, I do understand a little bit. According to the Torah the lands that Gad and Reuven asked for were better for their cattle and would better suit their needs. We all want to take care of our families, I get that. Don’t get me wrong, it still seems absurd to make it that far and then stop right before the final destination and not inherit any of the land promised by Hashem. I would think that by this point in the journey the Israelites would finally understand that maybe Hashem really does know best as has been demonstrated countless times during their period of wandering and that anyone that has disagreed has suffered immensely...but that’s humanity for you. We are a stubborn bunch.

Moshe, being the just leader that he is, agrees to their request with a caveat; you may take the land that you want but only if you continue on with the Israelites to gain the land West of the Jordan as well and Reuven and Gad seem happy enough to go along with the plan. From this I feel it there is a message about communal versus individual needs and desires. The two tribes clearly felt staying in the East would be better for their own needs yet they agree to aid in the communal battle for Eretz Yisrael. Sometimes we have to put down our own selfish desires to help out our people, our community, the people that we needed and will need again in our lifetimes. Living life selfishly will get you nowhere in the end because everyone needs help sometimes and only within a community will you find the infrastructure for personal love and support. Of all communities, in the history of human existence, there haven’t been communities as successful as boosting one another up than that of Am Yisrael. Maybe I don’t understand why Gad and Reuven would want to settle outside of the land but I can respect that they, at least, put down their personal interests temporarily to fight for their people.