going home ... to yerushalayim: Reb Neuberger – Matos-Maasei

31 July 2024

Reb Neuberger – Matos-Maasei – Careful WIth Your Words

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR WORDS

This week, we complete Sefer Bamidbar. The Children of Israel are now situated on the Plains of Moav, on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Soon they will cross into the Promised Land. Their desert travels have ended and they are poised for the culmination of their long journey, which was fraught with miracles, tragedy and triumph.

You can see this Biblical landscape today. Leaving Yerushalayim on Kvish Echad, one immediately enters the Judean Desert with the road descending sharply, some three thousand feet in about one half hour. Whenever I travel this amazing road, I see in my mind’s eye the legions of Israel under the leadership of Moshe Rabbeinu and Yehoshua.

Similarly in our own days, we are also poised “on the banks of the Jordan,” as we await the day when Hashem will “Sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise the banner to gather our exiles and gather us together from the four corners of the earth!” (Shemoneh Esreh)

Despite the travails which bombard us from every direction, it is vital to keep this in mind during these Three Weeks, when we can easily become depressed. The surrounding nations are not only filled with hatred, but they are also more powerful than we. One could think, “How will I overcome these troubles?”

“Perhaps you will say in your heart, ‘These nations are more numerous than I. How will I be able to drive them out?’ [That is why Hashem tells us,] do not fear them … Remember what Hashem your G-d did to Paro and to all of Egypt …. Hashem your G-d will thrust these nations from before you!” (Dvarim 7:17)

Last week we read about Pinchas. He alone fought for Hashem and His Torah when the entire nation was apparently helpless. This is extremely difficult; social pressure is huge. “It is the nature of people to nullify themselves to other people and allow themselves to be influenced.” (Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt”l on Mesilas Yesharim)

I see this in myself. We want to please the people around us; we tend to shift our opinions when we hear the opinions of others, no matter who they are. Recently, I was conversing with people who are favorable towards known Jew-haters and I found myself feeling defensive. Why was I embarrassed?

Pinchas alone stood up and saved Klal Yisroel!

Later in last week’s Parsha, there is a census which contains a shocking statistic. The Tribe of Binyamin -- in the years since Our Father Yaakov and his sons had entered Egypt -- suffers the loss of five out of ten of its family-groups. Binyamin entered Egypt with ten sons (the most of any tribe). Half of these families had disappeared by the time this census was conducted 250 years later in the Sinai Desert!

We have to understand how special Binyanim was. He was the youngest son of Our Father Yaakov and the only brother who did not participate in the conspiracy against Yosef. He was the only tribal patriarch born in Eretz Yisroel. Furthermore, the Bais Hamikdosh rests in his territory. Additionally, both Mordechai and Esther come from Shevet Binyamin.

However, Binyamin’s tribe was devastated, not only in the Desert but also during the catastrophic civil war resulting from the story of the concubine in Gibeah (recounted in Shoftim 19ff). What caused these tragic events?

As Yaakov Avinu and his family were entering Israel, near Bais Lechem, our Mother Rochel gave birth to Binyamin. (Beraishis 35:16ff) She died during this difficult birth, and her burial place, which we now know as Kever Rochel, stands at that very spot. Her dying words were the name she wished to give her son, “Ben Oni … son of my sorrow.” (Moshe HaDarshan, cited by Rashi, as seen in the Stone Chumash)

Oy, what tragedy!

A great rabbi explained that, based on this episode, we can learn to be exceedingly careful with our words. Rochel may have unwittingly brought future tragedy upon her son with the name she gave to him.

Even though one may be in terrible straits, one never knows what the future will bring. At any moment, our lives have the potential to go either way. No one except a prophet can foresee the future. In fact, the Torah tells us, “tamim tehiye … be wholehearted with Hashem,” upon which Rashi comments, “Do not delve into the future. Whatever comes upon you, accept with wholeheartedness.” (Dvarim 18:13) This is a great test.

It is important to keep in mind, that when we go today by the thousands to Kever Rochel, we find consolation in the darkest moments. We do not know what lies ahead. The moment of greatest difficulty may be the prelude to unimaginable joy. “In the evening, one lies down weeping, but with dawn … a cry of joy!” (Tehillim 30)

May we see the Sun of Salvation arise soon on the eastern horizon!