Matot-Masei - Weekly Torah Portion

Moses is rightfully furious, “Should your brothers go to war while you remain here? And why are you discouraging the sons of Israel from crossing over into the land which the Lord has given them?” This was his response to the request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad who wish to settle on the eastern bank of the river Jordan. They requested, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as our property; do not take us across the Jordan.” And Moses fumed. Wars are not a simple business; they are bloody and demand significant human sacrifice. He assumes that this will also be the case when entering the Promised Land. If some of the people are already fearing that situation the entire delicate fabric of the upstart nation may quickly dissolve, tear apart and disintegrate.

Maybe they have thought so from the onset, maybe as an afterthought when experiencing the revered leader’s rage, the tribes respond by approaching him and saying, “We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones; but we ourselves will be armed, hurrying ahead of the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has gained possession of his inheritance. But we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.” Moses responds in what seems to read like covenants of a contract by saying, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from Him, and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you may return and be free of obligation toward the Lord and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours as property before the Lord. But if you do not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure that your sin will find you out.”

Wars are a dirty business, complicated and full of tragedy, that was the case in the past and remains so today. This last Wednesday I was together with my family at a military base near the town of Be’er Sheva. The occasion was a ceremony of the completion of an officer’s course of the medical core of the IDF. My son, lieutenant Dr. Tomer Marko was among those successfully sworn into the core, and we were excited and emotional. My blessing to him was that he should take care of the soldiers that he sees during his service in just the same way that we would expect a doctor to treat him when he needs medical assistance of help. It was exciting to meet his colleagues and commanders, as well as a group of highly motivated women and men who are going to become part of the IDF medical core.

It touched my heart to listen to this young group of soldiers pledging allegiance reciting their oath to “lend a helping hand to each wounded and each sick person, regardless of status, a friend or foe – to any human being.” They continued to say that they will “conduct their actions wisely, resourcefully and with love to the human race.” The soldiers before us represented the different tribes of Israel, each a world of her or his own, and they were there together. They were ready to fulfill their tasks, some of which shall be complex, demanding and challenging sometimes as part of the ugly business of war. I was thrilled thinking of my later father, a Holocaust survivor who was not with us in body on this special day, but was well aware it was going to be. He himself became an officer with the IDF and was grateful to see also children and grandchildren serving as officers. It was far from the dreadful winter of 1945 where he and his father dragged themselves across of Europe with the Nazis murdering around them so many less fortunate souls.

This teaches us of the importance of what the two tribes have done back thousands of years ago and who finally settled on the other side of the Jordan valley. They proclaimed that they are brothers to their own People. They fought should-to-shoulder beside them. They did not request all kinds of privileges and exemptions from the bitter consequence of waging war. Not only do they make the pledge to be there, they confirm that they will be with the first troops and shall not return until the mission is fully accomplished. Tomer, and his fellow men and women are part of the essential fabric that provides for the safety and security of the State of Israel. We, as members of the Reform Movement, have pride and hope that the values we have instilled in them will be reflected in their daily administration of action which is often challenging and complicated. This is also an important message to our friends outside of Israel, that our children serve with the IDF, and when thinking about it, they should think of them as if they were their children too.

It was the out-going president of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, that started the discourse about the tribes that comprise today’s Israel. Seven years ago, shortly before Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the URJ, met with president Rivlin for the first time, we talked and Rabbi Jacobs was concerned about his presidency. I thought that Rivlin will surprise us with his action. Rabbi Jacobs, like always, went to the meeting with an open heart and found a welcoming president of Israel who did not hesitate to address him as Harav (הרב) Jacobs, privately, and most importantly, publicly. The Israeli president established a 9th of Av forum with representatives of all streams of Judaism that were invited every year to speak together of the lessons of yesteryear events on our times. Thanks to president Rivlin for a wonderful and welcoming presidency and congratulations to the incoming president Isaac Herzog. Last, but certainly not least. You can still make donations to the IMPJ crowdfunding campaign. Thanks in advance.

Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov and wishes for Good Health.

Reuven Marko, 9 July 2021, 1 Av, 5781