Insights Into This Week's Parsha

Brought to us by Rabbi Mordechai Katz, Rabbi David Feinstein, and Rabbi Abraham Twerski.

Rabbi Mordechai Katz

The parsha tells us that signs with directions to the Orei Miklot appear on every cross road in settled territories. But there are no signs directing to Jerusalem (where Jews traveled for Festivals.) Why is it so? If an accidental murderer on route to a city of refuge was forced to ask directions, it would lead to gossip. On the contrary, if Jews journeying to Jerusalem asked for directions, it would lead to discussion of the Festivals and perhaps their uniting for the journey.

MESSAGE FOR US::
The Torah encourages public discussion of mitzvos, while discouraging potentially harmful gossip.

The Torah doesn't go into excessive detail throughout its chapters. So why does it list in detail all of the various stages and stops in the Jews' journey? It's because the Jews have finallyentered Canaan and Hashem reminds them of their difficult journey. Each stop along the way held its own unique memories and lessons for them to remember.

MESSAGE FOR US:
We, as a people, just like the Israelites, have come a long way and shouldn't forget Hashem's assistance in our journey or the experiences that helped forge our national identity.

Rabbi David Feinstein

Surprisngly, the Torah speak of "the road away from Egypt" rather then "the road to Israel." This suggests that the Torah views the Exodus as more than just a geographical re-location. It was a spiritual process focusing the Israelites committment to Hashem, involving the weaning of the "slave mentality" and the instilling of a commitment to Torah and Hashem.

MESSAGE FOR US:
The Exodus (and subsequent journey away from Egypt) to this day continues to be a spiritual process for the Jews, instilling in us a committment to Torah and Hashem

Rabbi Abraham Twerski

As the Torah describes the forty year journey of the Jews, it mentions the various stops in detail and makes sure to do it in such a manner saying, "They traveled from A and camped at B. They traveled from B and camped at C, etc." The Torah does not have a superfluous letter, according to both Rabbi Twerski and Rabbi Feinstein. So why doesn't it state, "They camped at A, B, C, etc."?

According to Torah commentaries, the 40 year journey int he desert was one of spiritual growth necessary to prepare the Jews for entrance into the holy land. Thus, the people that were capable of the lack of faith and trust in G-d (brought by the Golden Calf and the spies) required much spiritual development, brought on under the watchful eye of Moses. Each dwelling place (in superfluous detail) symbolizes a stepping stone in this process towards spiritual development. As the Jews solidified their spiritual growth at a particular resting place, they were they able to travel to the next point. If they regressed in their spiritual development, they had to go back and bring back the spirituality they had previously lost if they were able to progress further.

MESSAGE FOR US:
Spirituality is a gradual process.

Although the Torah goes into detail about which stops were taken by the Israelites, it does not describe any of their features---except for one: Elim.

They traveled from Marah and came to Elim, and in Elim there were twelves springs of water and seventy palms, and they camped there." Inasmuch as the Torah does not describe any of the other camping sites, why does the Torah find it important to describe the features of Elim?

According to commentary from the Baal Shem Tov, the Israelites were not able to drink the water in Marah because they were bitter. He says it is a common that when a person has an attitude of bitterness, everything appears to be bitter, regardless of how sweet it may be in reality. We must realize that our perception can be grossly distorted by our mood. In their next encampment, Elim, there were springs of water and seventy palms. But seventy palms is of no value to a population of several million? Finally ridding themselves of depression at Marah, coming upon this small wonder was a pleasant event. When they separated themselves from their bitterness, then camping at Elim became enjoyable.

MESSAGE FOR US:
Some of life's events may cause us to become dejected. We must try to overcome this mood, and develop a positive attitude, because in a state of dejection, we may perceive reality in a negative light, whereas in a state of simchah (joy), we can recognize everything we have as a precious gift.