Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Shabbat Matot-Masei
Torah: Numbers 30:2 - 36:13 Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4 - 28; 3:4
“If Not Now, When?”
Dear Friends,
How can we find balance in our lives? With so much going on and so many distractions around us, it is easy to get thrown off course and loose focus. We might forget to take care of our needs. We might lose sight of our communal responsibilities. This is the dilemma that is clarified in this week’s Torah portion.
As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, the tribes of Gad and Reuben requested to settle east of the Jordan River, outside the Land of Israel citing that the land was good for raising cattle. Moses was suspicious of the request because he knew that the upcoming conquest of the Holy Land would require the participation of all the tribes, including these two. In the end, Gad and Reuben promised to come to the aid of their fellow Israelites who were about to settle in the Promised Land.
The great Rabbi Hillel summed up this situation in one simple teaching. If I am not for myself, who am I? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? One of the great Jewish values is Community. We live in community in order to find support in the fulfillment of our needs. We live in community to help others fulfill their needs. The Torah teaches us to find focus and purpose in life by striking a balance, taking care of each other and ourselves. If not now, when?
Zay a mentsch – Be a good person!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
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