B"H
Wednesday, Tammuz 23, 5780 / July 15, 2020
This Shabbat we combine the last two Parshiot in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar), Matot& Masei. With this reading we will conclude the fourth Book of the Torah. In Parshat Matot, G-d commands Moshe, “Take revenge against the Midyonites for the children of Israel, after that you will be gathered to your people [he will die].”
Moshe then commands the people, “Arm from amongst yourselves men ready for combat to avenge G-d’s revenge against Midyan. One thousand men from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel.”
This battle was to avenge the death of 24,000 Jewish people, who died in a plague, as a result of the Midyonites. Although Moshe knew that after this he will die, yet, he didn’t hesitate and mobilized the people immediately.
Q.G-d told Moshe, “Take revenge.. for the children of Israel.” It was to avenge what they did to the people. Yet, when Moshe gave over G-d’s message, he changed it. Instead of saying to avenge for what they did to the people, he told them to avenge what they did against G-d.
A.Our sages learn from this that when one commits aggression against the children of Israel they are in fact committing an aggresion against G-d. Thus, avenging what they did against Israel is avenging G-d’s honor.
G-d tells Moshe that after this battle, Moshe will pass away. Although Moshe passed away thousands of years ago, yet, through his teachings which are valid till today, he is considered alive. Here is a story of the great Talmudic sage, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya to illustrate this point.
The Roman emperor, Hadrian (Hadrionus), once said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya (who lived at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple), “I am better than your teacher, Moshe, because I am alive and he is dead, and it is written, ‘A living dog is better than a dead lion.’”
Rabbi Yehoshua said to him, “Can you decree that no one should light a fire in Rome for three days?” “Sure I can,” he replied. Immediately Hadrian ordered that no fire be lit in Rome for three days.
But on that very evening when Hadrian went up on the roof of his palace together with Rabbi Yehoshua, they saw in the distance smoke rising in a few places.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya turned to Hadrian and said, “You are alive, yet, your decree couldn’t take hold even the first day… Whereas, our great teacher, Moshe, decreed over a thousand years ago, ‘Do not kindle any fire on the day of Shabbat,’ and to this dayhis commandment is strictly obeyed! So, who is greater? Moshe, who passed away over a thousand years ago, or you who is still alive?
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY