Parshat Matot: Numbers 30:1 -32:42: By Rabbi Denise L. Eger

Parshat Matot tells how the tribes of Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh requested to settle on the east side of the Jordan River. As the Israelites had made their way up the east side of the Jordan encountering and defeating many of the tribes and nations that engaged them in battle, the tribal leaders of Gad Reuben and Manasseh felt that this land was good cattle country. These tribes according to our portion owned many cattle (Num. 32:1). They wished to settle this land without crossing over the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

This request angers Moses. He replies “Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here?”(Num. 32:6). Moses is concerned that this will be seen as desertion from their sacred task and fulfillment of the covenantal promise. He is worried the tribes of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh will derail the unity that has been built among the people with their recent military successes by deserting and bailing from the national obligations. Moses’ lets their tribal leaders know that if they bail on their responsibility to the entire nation that it could bring “calamity upon all this people”Num. 32:15).

These tribal leaders recognize Moses’ words and in a show of dedication to the Israelite nation, if their request is granted then they will volunteer to be at the front of the troops as they cross into the Promised Land. The promise that if this land east of the Jordan can be theirs, they will not desert the Israelites in their sacred task to settle the Promised Land but will remain there, west of the Jordan, until the task is finished and the land of Israel
“The Gadites and the Reubenites said in reply, “Whatever Adonai has spoken concerning your servants, that we will do” (Num. 32:31).

This is a very important lesson in loyalty and unity. The actions of a few do matter. If Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh had deserted the Israelites just as they were about to complete the covenantal promise –the entire enterprise would have collapsed. But the tribal leaders understood that they had a role to play not just for themselves and their families but to the nation. And they had an obligation to God.

This week we can take some inspiration from the tribe of Gad and Reuben and the half tribe of Mannasseh. Loyalty to the Jewish people ought to play a role in our decisions making and our lives. But all too often we don’t consider what affect our individual decisions will have upon the Jewish people as a whole. The individual matters and so does the Jewish people world –wide. So let us be reminded that without Gad and Reuben and Manasseh we would be less and without you—and your family we are less as well!

So think about our People in all you do—and your important connection to Am Yisrael- the Jewish people.

Posted by Jimmy at July 21, 2008 04:16 PM