Jordan Torrent
http://www.jewishideas.org/section/thoughts-torah-portion-mattoth-july-26by Rabbi Marc D. Guardian angel
As the Israelites adjust to take account of the promised land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moses with a direct. They explicit that they had repeated flocks, and that they desired not to cross the Jordan.
They embrace to envision themselves on this close of the Jordan, and were disposed to forego domain in the land of Canaan. Of course, their direct unspoken that they were "seceding" from the Israelite nation, in the air that they would not publicize in the promised land, and would not keep to purpose the coming wars depressed with the rest of the Israelites.
Moses was gnashing your teeth. "Force your brothers go to war at the same time as you sit here?" The tribes of Reuben and Gad reassured Moses that their men would go depressed with the rest of the nation, would campaign in the battles, and so superior would return to the domain on the other close of the Jordan. Among this responsibility, Moses granted them their direct. Why was Moses so jerky with them in the upper place?
1) the tribes of Reuben and Gad seemed to be nosy in the main in their own simplicity and solid wellbeing; they put their interests senior the wishes of the add up nation.
2) by suggesting that they be there on the other close of the Jordan, these tribes were not right shirking their declare errands, but were damaging the emotional state of the terrain. The other tribes would knack powerless and betrayed if Reuben and Gad did not sign up them in the capture of Canaan.
3) following people's emotional state is low, it is all the outstanding critical to lead them to downfall.
The exact that Moses asked Reuben and Gad is a exact that wishes to be asked of us in each while. "Force your brothers go to war at the same time as you sit here?" The Jewish terrain in Israel and in the environs of the diaspora faces numerous challenges.
We deficiency all our liveliness and energy to regard enemies, anti-Semites and anti-Zionists. We deficiency severe guts and tug to influence our Jewish moving style, our stanch and cultural way of life, our beautiful kindred life. We deficiency to grasp the outdoor and central martial that impair our physical and spiritual ease. To purpose these challenges, we deficiency 100% influence.
To the same extent Jews say: let others earn these errands, let others pay the bills, let others make the sacrifices--they impair the liveliness and emotional state of the add up terrain of Israel. To the same extent Jews say: let me earn devoutness of my own wishes, and let me not be bothered with the errands to the add up people--they spot the bad mode of Reuben and Gad.
As Moses replied to those tribes, we deficiency to come back with to ourselves and to others: guts your brothers and sisters go to war, remuneration the battles, make the sacrifices, build the nation while you sit playfully by? All and sundry of us wishes to be reminded on a regular proof that we are part of a revered Jewish nation with a revered try.
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All and sundry of us is basic to the ease of the nation. All and sundry of us has the totally and praise of play a part our publicize to advance the rear.
