Mattos / Masei Round-up (2013-2022)
No new Mattos / Masei article this year. Instead, here are eleven divrei Torah articles from 2013-2022, all available as PDFs and the more recent ones in audio format.
The Torah Content for the remainder of July has been sponsored by the Lichters in honor of Jonny Schneeweiss "for being Jonny."
Shout-out to my talmid, Michael Gordon, whose recent article in The Sinai Spectator titled Rambam and Seneca: On Writing for Yourself (and God), reminded me of my three January 2024 commitments:
NOT to be bound by the self-imposed tyranny of the weekly parashah
NOT to be bound by the self-imposed tyranny of page-length restrictions
NOT to choose what to write about based on what I imagine other people want or expect.
I didn’t have time this week to even pick a topic to write about in Mattos or Masei, and I’m just not in the mood to find a topic and write a full article today. I have a spicier topic in mind for my next article.
But if you really want an article I’ve written on this parashah, help yourself to one of these. And if you’ve read all eleven, perhaps this would be a good time for chazarah (review). If I, myself, forget what I’ve written, then maybe you have as well!
2022: Masei: How to Read the Travels of Bnei Yisrael
Length: 1 page
Synopsis: Why does the Torah "waste" 49 verses enumerating all 42 places where Bnei Yisrael encamped in the Midbar? Rambam offers a compelling answer in the Moreh - one which involves a call to action for us.
Click here for the PDF version and click here for an audio version
2021: Haftarah of Mattos / Masei: Divine Love as the Foundation of Rebuke
Length: 1 page
Synopsis: Why does Yirmiyahu begin his prophecies of rebuke with a message of God's love? Perhaps the answer lies in a modern understanding of trauma and resilience in light of a principle taught by the Rambam.
Click here for the PDF version and click here for an audio version.
2020: Mattos/Masei: Leaving an Out for Your Enemy
Length: 3 pages
Synopsis: Why are we commanded to leave an out for our enemy in war? In this article we will examine two contrary answers given by Ramban (supported by Sun Tzu) which have practical applications for us.
Click here the PDF version.
2019: Masei: Leviim as Role Models of Tolerance
Length: 3 pages
Synopsis: What can the Leviim and Cities of Refuge teach us about cancel culture in the "progressive" culture of America today? A lot more than you might think! At least four lessons, by my count.
Click here the PDF version.
2018: Mattos/Masei: Who is to Blame?
Length: 4 pages
Synopsis: Who is at fault for the problems of the Jews, in the past and in the present: the people or the leaders? Moshe and Yirmiyahu are unequivocal in their answers, which are relevant to the month of Av.
Click here the PDF version.
2017: Haftaras Masei: Yirmiyahu’s Rebuke of Chachamim
Length: 5 pages
Synopsis: Yirmiyahu rebukes the wise men of his generation for "not knowing God." What does he mean? More questions are raised in this article than answers, but my hope is that these questions lead to teshuvah.
Click here the PDF version.
2016: Masei: The Journey from Boring to Interesting
Length: 3 pages
Synopsis: The beginning of Masei recounting Bnei Yisrael's travels in the Midbar has the reputation of being rather dry. What can we learn from passages such as these? Ralbag provides us with a model.
Click here the PDF version.
2015: Mattos/Masei: Seduced by Particulars
Length: 4 pages
Synopsis: The decision of the Bnei Gad and Bnei Reuven to settle outside of Eretz Yisrael might seem like it has nothing to do with us, but is that actually the case? Ralbag begs to differ.
Click here for the PDF version.
2014: Mattos: Bli Neder
Length: 2 pages
Synopsis: What is Judaism's view about nedarim (vows)? Are they good or bad? This article features the explanation of the Ran, and my own take on the phrase "bli neder."
Click here for the PDF version.
2014: Masei: The Release of Unintentional Murderers
Length: 2 pages
Synopsis: Unintentional murderers who are exiled to the cities of refuge are released upon the death of the Kohen Gadol. What is the Torah's rationale? Here are two answers: from the Bechor Shor and the Rambam.
Click here for the PDF version.
2013: Haftaras Masei: Becoming Hevel
Length: 2 pages
Synopsis: What does Yirmiyahu mean when he says that Bnei Yisrael "went after hevel and became hevel"? The answer to this question will require us to define avodah zarah, and to understand its effects.
Click here for the PDF version.
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