Weekly Dvar Torah: Cities of Refuge and Moshiach
When Rambam teaches about the concept of Moshiach and the full redemption, he brings proof from this week’s Parsha, in which we learn about the six, and then nine, cities of refuge.
If someone accidentally kills another person, he is protected from punishment and retribution when he runs into a city of refuge.
G-d commanded the Jewish people to create six cities of refuge as soon as they settle in Israel, and then the Torah says, that when G-d will expand your borders, you will add three more cities of refuge.
Rambam deduces from the addition of these three additional cities as rock-solid proof from the Torah, that Moshiach is meant to come in the future because this expansion has yet to happen, and this commandment was not instructed for naught, and has yet to be filled.
But why learn about such a lofty concept like Moshiach, from the cities of refuge which is all about those involved in killing and murder?
The function of cities of refuge was to protect the accidental murderer from retribution for his mistaken action, it’s a city of refuge and protection.
When Moshiach will come there will be no more killing and murder at all, and in that way conceptually we will all be protected as if we are all in a city of refuge.
Spiritually, the cities of refuge serve as protectors against the evil inclination which causes us to transgress, and this causes death to the soul, so the soul needs to be protected.
The city of refuge to protect us and the soul, is the Torah.
When Moshiach will come we will all be relieved from any evil inclination, and thus we will forever be fully protected against any potential behavior which may cause death to the soul.
Hence the connection between Moshiach and cities of refuge, they both protect against death caused by negligent behavior.
In miniature scale, the cities of refuge spring into action during the month of Elul, when we prepare for the New Year, and we resolve not to fall into the trap of the evil inclination again, Elul protects us against the potential trappings of death of the soul.
This is because of the many meanings of Elul which include, prayer, repentance, charity, and the study of Torah.
Torah study is the city of refuge, when we immerse in Torah study during Elul, we are absorbed by the Torah, and we are protected against any retribution for possible accidental death that we may have caused to the soul by our undesirable actions.
So even if upon reflection you think that all is lost because your behavior was not so Spic-n-Span, G-d with His infinite mercy setup for you a city of refuge, all you need to do is just enter, study extra Torah, and you’ll be fully protected for a good and sweet happy New Year.
Refuge, refuge, refuge,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
