Weekly Dvar Torah: Stand Stiff and Move Forward

This week is the second week of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temples.

It is only natural that the more we get into the mood of mourning for the destruction, the sadness would intensify and bring us down. Yet we find something amazing in the Parshas of this week, that sends us the opposite message.

We started the three weeks last week where the love for the land of Eretz Yisroel was highlighted particularly by the holy women who demanded a portion in the Holy Land. This week we proceed to learn about the travels of the Jewish people all the way to the border of Eretz Yisroel, from where they are to enter the Holy Land. We also learn about the borders of Eretz Yisroel that is G-d’s gift to the Jewish people for eternity.

These are all messages that connect us with the Holy Land and excite us about the imminent redemption with Moshiach when we will once again live in our land in these borders. In addition we learn a special message of encouragement and hope in these days of mourning.

We read two portions in the Torah, one is called Matos, and the second is called Masei. Matos means a staff, a stiff unbending cane, and Masei means travels, motion, moving forward.

Another big event takes place when we read the Torah. We conclude the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), and after the last words are read, we ceremonially announce in unison; CHAZAK, CHAZAK V’NISCHAZEK (be strong, be strong and we’ll all be strengthened)!

This is absolutely amazing, in the midst of a three-week marathon of mourning, we energize ourselves by these empowering messages. Instead of indulging in sorrow as we continue to mourn the destruction.

The message is very clear. In the first Parsha of Matos we are told to be like an unbending stick. Do not allow the destruction and the resulting exile to break you. Then in the second Parsha we are told not to remain standing still, do not lose hope and become dragged down by the mourning, it’s Masei time, it’s travel time, it’s time to move forward. We are now embarking on a journey of exactly 42 stations. This tells us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a plan and it should take exactly 42 stations until we reach the final destination which is redemption.

A person’s life’s journey begins at the starting point which is Mitzrayim, a place of boundaries, limitations and inhibitions. There are many obstacles which seem to hold us back from moving forward. Then we start pushing our way through life, like life in the desert. We find ourselves in a place of snakes and scorpions, a world which is desolate and barren. So many challenges, here no water and there no food, then you are attacked from all sides by enemies of all sorts who challenge your mere existence. And in this desert, you have a ticket that keeps you moving from station to station, from one miracle to the next. You have a one-way ticket to the final forty second stop which leads you into the Holy Land, the land of G-d and infinity.

Then we proclaim; CHAZAK, CHAZAK V’NISCHAZEK (be strong, be strong and we’ll all be strengthened), because we know that when we will conclude the journey, we will together be stronger than ever. We will then receive the eternal G-dly reward in the promised land. A time when these weeks of mourning will turn into days of joy, as we greet Moshiach in the third Beis Hamikdash which will be built speedily.

Have a strong mobile Shabbos, CHAZAK, CHAZAK V’NISCHAZEK!
Gut Shabbos,

Rabbi Yosef Katzman