Parshas Matos
A Bridge to Nowhere
Volume 3 Issue 44
Moshe had been the consummate conciliator for the past 40 years. From the
sin of the Golden Calf when he appeased Hashem through the many ordeals
throughout the 40-year desert sojourn, he is constantly an advocate for the
wishes of his nation. This week, however, Moshe he reacts totally different
to what appears to be a simple requisition.
The children of Gad and Reuvain come to Moshe with a simple request. They
are shepherds and do not want to cross the Jordan River into the Land of
Canaan. They claim that the land on the east bank of the river is better
for grazing. Before they even get a chance to fully present their request,
Moshe releases a virtual tirade at them. For eleven verses, more than any
single rebuke in the entire Torah, Moshe chastises them. He says that their
request is subversive and will dissuade others from crossing the Jordan. He
relives the fateful episode of the spies and their slander of the Land of
Israel. He recounts the wrath of Hashem and details the suffering of Israel
because of that sin. He compares the representatives who requested to remain
to those terrible men, and claims that Gad and Reuvain "have risen in their
place to add more burning wrath of Hashem against Israel" (Numbers: 32:6-16)
It is extremely difficult to comprehend why Moshe, normally so conciliatory,
patient, and understanding, even during the most difficult of times, became
so sharply incensed at this request. Obviously, Moshe's actions are a
lesson to all of us. What is it?
David was driving to the Catskills for Shabbos but set out from his
Manhattan office with hardly enough time to make the trip and arrive before
sundown. Traffic was backed up on the Major Deegan and crossing the Hudson
via the George Washington Bridge seemed an almost impossible task.
Mid-span, after sitting nearly an hour in stop-and-go traffic, he realized
that the red orb in the sky was about to sink below the horizon. He had
never desecrated the Shabbos before and traffic on the George Washington
Bridge was not going to make him violate the Sabbath now. In a panic, he
pulled his car as close as he could to the guard rail, left the keys on the
visor, removed his wallet and hid it together his personal effects and hoped
for the best. At worst, the car would be stolen. Maybe the police would
get to it first and tow it.
Feeling a little guilty about adding to the traffic delays on the bridge,
David left his car, flashers blinking, and walked back toward New York City
where he decided to spend the Shabbos at a friend who lived in nearby
Washington Heights.
Saturday night he returned to the bridge and his car was nowhere to be seen.
He went straight to the police station and asked for the desk officer. "Did
anyone see the gray Honda that was on the George Washington Bridge on Friday
night?"
The officers eyes widened. "You mean the car with the keys on the visor?"
David nodded.
"Franky, get over here," the cop yelled to his friend," listened to this!"
By now a couple of officers moved closer to David.
The sergeant raised his voice. "You mean the Honda with the flashers on?"
Again David nodded, this time more nervously.
You mean the Honda with the wallet with close to $500 dollars left under the
front seat!" he shouted. "Was that your car!?"
David shook his head meekly. "Yes, officer, that's my car. Where is it?"
"Where is it??" mocked the officer, "Where is it? Do you know how many
divers we have looking for your body in the Hudson!?"
Moshe understood that the worst of all sins is not what one does privately
in his heart or in his home but rather when his actions affect the spirit of
others. Often, one's self-interest mires any thought of how his conduct
will affect others. The children of Gad and Reuvain had a personal issue.
They did not want to cross the Jordan River because they wanted to graze in
greener pastures. Yet they did not consider what effect their request might
have on an entire nation. They did not take into account the severe
ramifications their actions may have on the morale of hundreds of thousands
of enthusiastic people wanting to enter the Holy Land.
In our lives, at home and at work, not everything that we do, say or act
upon may be interpreted with the intent that motivated the action. And
sometimes those misinterpretation can have devastating effects on morale,
attitude and feeling. We may refuse to cross a river for a matter of
convenience. Others, however, may see it as a calamity. Our job is to be
conscious that everything we do affects not only ourselves, but is a bridge
to many other people.
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