Shalom My JTF Friends,
Just got home from studying some pages of Baba Metziah with two lovely young men from Chabads 'Roving Rabbis' program. We had a great time and I look forward to learning more with these Talmid Chochamim.
This week we read the double portion of Matot and Massie. Issues dealt with include the laws concerning the annulment of vows, the conflict with Midian, the let-down of Rueban and Gad (They didn't seem to want to go into the land), and the 42 stations which we camped at in the desert.
From Chabads 'Parsha in a Nut-Shell' @
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2244/jewish/Matot-Massei-in-a-Nutshell.htmMoses conveys the laws governing the annulment of vows to the heads of the tribes of Israel. War is waged against Midian for their role in plotting the moral destruction of Israel, and the Torah gives a detailed account of the war spoils and how they were allocated amongst the people, the warriors, the Levites and the high priest.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad (later joined by half of the tribe of Manasseh) ask for the lands east of the Jordan as their portion in the Promised Land, these being prime pastureland for their cattle. Moses is initially angered by the request, but subsequently agrees on the condition that they first join, and lead, in Israel’s conquest of the lands west of the Jordan.
The forty-two journeys and encampments of Israel are listed, from the Exodus to their encampment on the plains of Moab across the river from the land of Canaan. The boundaries of the Promised Land are given, and cities of refuge are designated as havens and places of exile for inadvertent murderers. The daughters of Tzelafchad marry within their own tribe of Manasseh, so that the estate which they inherit from their father should not pass to the province of another tribe.
Let us start with the latest video posted by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem:
Topic: Video Study for Parsha Matot-Massie : Keeping Vows and Lifes Journeys (Read 2673 times)