JULY 28 • 2022 | 43
SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
To Better the World
I
t is important to
distinguish the borders
of Israel, as many
mitzvahs such as observing
the smittah — sabbatical
year tithing of grain,
first fruits, etc., are
performed only
within Israel. That
is why the Land of
Israel is called the
Holy Land.
The practical
borders of the
Land of Israel are
delineated in Mattot/
Maasei. The ultimate
borders of Israel
are mentioned
in Mishpatim
Exodus 25. There,
the borders are
defined as the Euphrates
in the north (Turkey), the
Persian Gulf to the east,
the Nile to the south and
the Mediterranean with
all the islands to the west.
Moshe explained that these
borders were not practical
to maintain a proper
infrastructure. At the very
least, the area would be
overrun with wild animals.
Moshe suggested that
the land be conquered as
needed.
The borders mentioned in
this week’s portion extend
from Southern Turkey in
the north to the Negev
Desert south of Beer Sheva
and from the coastline in
the west to Transjordan in
the east.
Each individual and every
country in the Bible can
be understood as a specific
character trait within us.
The (Holy) “land” refers
to our bodies. Our bodies
are intrinsically holy. Our
souls were sent down to our
bodies to affect the body
and the world making it a
better place. This is called
in the Kabballa tikkun
olam.
To facilitate this, the
Almighty commanded
the Jewish people
many mitzvahs. All
the mitzvahs are done
with physical objects.
The soul descends
from its pristine state,
totally united with the
essence of Hashem
to a body comprised
of inanimate matter
to perform those
mitzvahs. The soul
achieves a higher level of
Divine perception once
the mission is complete.
Moshiach comes when all
the souls complete their
missions (if not sooner).
Moshe delineated the
borders so that we could
understand that only a cer-
tain geographical area was
to be considered holy.
Allegorically, we are to
understand that our bodies
achieve holiness through
performing mitzvahs in the
way the Torah specifically
delineates them.
Thoughts on the portion:
What makes something
holy? What effect, in the
long run, does performing
positive acts have on
the world? How is the
term Holy Land applicable
today?
Rabbi Herschel Finman is co-direc-
tor (with his wife Chana) of Jewish
Ferndale, www.rabbifinman.com.
Rabbi
Herschel
Finman
Parshat
Mattot/
Massei:
Numbers
30:2-36:13;
Jeremiah
2;4-28, 3:4.
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