Dear Friends,
This week we read a double portion of the Torah called Matot-Masei. On the surface, these two portions seem totally unrelated.
Matot begins with laws about vows and the commitments we make with our words. It offers a clear reminder of the power and impact of speech.
By contrast, Masei is basically a travelogue that lists each of the stops—42 in all—that the Israelites made on their journey through the Sinai wilderness.
But while the portions may SEEM unrelated, when taken together they offer a powerful truth.
In a time when words are thrown around so casually that they often lose their weight, Matot reminds us that our words matter. With our words we can tear down or we can create—we can bring the light of kindness into our world or we can introduce the darkness of hate.
Masei, on the other hand, is about our physical journey. It focuses on where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. The portion drives home the truth that life is not a straight line along a predetermined path, but a winding road filled with unexpected detours.
But here’s the striking thing: a close look at the 42 stops our ancestors made reveals the fact that most of the places mentioned aren’t particularly memorable. Some don’t even get a description. But they’re recorded all the same. And by recording ALL the stops, rather than just the significant ones, Torah reminds us that even the mundane moments in life matter.
Taken together these portions send the message that meaning is not found in reaching a destination, but in the small, seemingly meaningless moments and interactions we have along the way. And they remind us that each step we take, and each word we say, matters.
For what may seem small and insignificant to us can have tremendous impact.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen