B"H

Thursday, Tammuz 29, 5776 / August 4, 2016 - Hakhel year

Tonight (Thursday night) and Friday will be Rosh Chodesh of the new Hebrew month Menachem Av. From the Torah we will read this Shabbat the last two Parshiot of the fourth Book of the Torah (Bamidbar), Parshat Matot and Masei. In Israel only Masei will be read.

In Parshat Matot the Torah relates that the tribes of Reuben and Gad had a great multitude of cattle.  They came to Moshe and requested to inherit land on the eastern side of the Jordan River, rather than settling on the other side together with the rest of the people of Israel.

Moshe rebukes them; “Shall your brethren go to war and you will sit here?  You will turn away the hearts of the children of Israel from going into the land which the L-rd has given them.”

Moshe reminds them what happened when the ten spies came back and convinced the people not to go to the Promised Land. This resulted in their staying in the desert forty years. 

The tribes of Reuben and Gad replied, “We will build fences to secure our cattle and cities for our little ones. We ourselves will be ready and go armed before the children of Israel... we will not return to our houses until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.”

Moshe was satisfied that they would do their share in fighting for the land. He said to them, “If you will do this thing and go to war... until the land will be conquered before the L-rd... then this land shall be to you for a possession before the L-rd.”

Then Moshe instructs them, “Build for you cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth (i.e. keep your promise).”

Q.  The tribes of Reuben and Gad told Moshe, “We will build fences to secure our cattle and cities for our little ones.” First they mentioned securing their cattle and then their children. Yet, when Moshe agreed to their request he instructed them, “Build for you cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep.” Moshe speaks first about the children and then of their cattle.

A.Our sages tell us that Moshe rebuked the people of the two tribes for speaking of the safety of their cattle before their children.  Thus, he instructed them to go about this in the proper order; “First build cities for your little ones and only after you shall build stables for your sheep.”

As with every part of the Torah, there is an important lesson here. Especially in our time when so much emphasis is placed on material success, at times even at the expense of our children. 

The lesson from this story in the Torah is that we must place much greater priority and emphasis on protecting our children. Monetary and social success may be very important, but they should only be secondary to the spiritual, moral and emotional well being of our children.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY