PARSHAS MASAI - The Wandering Jew

I would like to share a thought about the concept known as “a wandering Jew”.  We may seem to just be be wandering, but in truth, there is always a purpose. 

The portion today begins with the words:  “These are the journeys of the Children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt…” (Bamidbar 33:1).  It goes on to recount the names all of the places where the Jews wandered to and from on their way from Egypt to Israel.  The obvious question is: Why does it say, “These are the journeys” in the plural?  They weren’t going out of Egypt on all of their journeys. The first journey took them out of Egypt and then the subsequent stops seem to just be additional places they passed on their way to Israel. 

The answer is that every journey and every stop along their way symbolized breaking forth from the level they were on to reach a new and higher plateau. Then, that newly reached plateau became their next starting point.  The level they had just reached because “Egypt” once more, and they had to grow and journey forward yet further towards their goal of reaching Israel.   

In life, we all are wandering Jews.  We all have many journeys which we make through every stage of life. We constantly have to face situations and circumstances that seem to block us form going forward.  In Hebrew, the word for “Egypt” is Mitzrayim, which can also be translated as “limitations”. 

Yet, G-d expects us to break through these limitations, and He gives us the power and ability to do so.  And when we do - it is like a weight is lifted off our chest.  It is as we left a tight spot and moved into an area of great expanse. 

One might say, “Thank G-d,  I made it, and now I am done”, but one move is never enough.  In fact, all of life is but a serious of journeys, from tight areas to expansive areas, over and over, in different ways. 

When we are born we travel down the constricted space of the birth canal into the wide expanse of the birthing room.  From then on, we struggle to learn to walk and to talk and to behave appropriately.  At every stage of life, the obstacles seem great.  Over and over we feel areas of constriction and then, as we overcome that obstacle, we feel areas of great expanse.  The goal is to continue onward through each limitation, and to use it to reach the higher goal.  

Now we can better understand the verse in our portion.  It is teaching us that all of life is a serious of journeys from our personal limitations and constrictions towards our personal Israel.  Obstacles are not made to block us but rather for us to overcome. In so doing, it enables us to reach the next plateau. 

The things that are hard for my daughter Rivky who is four years old, may be quite easy for my daughter Sheina who is fourteen.  The things which are hard for Sheina may be simple for Chaya who is already married.   Those things that Chaya contends with in her first year marriage may be simple things to Goldie and me.  The challenge which we look forward to with G-d’s when we soon become grandparents may be no big deal to those of you who have already experienced and excelled at this particular “journey” at some time in the past. 

All through life, there are a series of issues.  When one gets married, they often think there will never be another problem.  But there are. Yet the lesson is that together, these areas of constriction can be changed into areas of great expanse and joy.   

Or everything seems to be going along just fine and then you or someone you love gets sick.   Or you are on track to retiring in just a few years, and they the market tumbles and you need to adjust your plan.   The point is, as we wander through life there will always be something to accomplish, a purpose to our seemingly endless wandering.   When does it end?   It doesn’t, at least not as long as we are alive. 

This week, I had the pleasure to visit Millie Weinberg on her birthday.., her 101^st birthday.  I asked her, “What was her secret to such long life?”   At first she said she didn’t know. But then she paused and said something amazing.  She said,   ”I pray every day. I say my brochos in the morning and Shema Yisroel at night.  I think of G-d every single day, and I feel him in my life.  That helps”. 

During our visit, David Kahn happened to walk by and Millie invited him in. Dave just celebrated his 99^th birthday and I asked him the same question.  “He too said I don’t know, but that he davens everyday, and feels G-d hears him and in with him.  Today, we are celebrating Helen Weisner’s 96^th birthday.  Helen is also a woman who davens every day and says she too constantly feels G-d in her life.  So I am sharing approximately 300 years of experience in telling you:  “A Jew who prays is never alone. Think of G-d each and every day.  Pray to him for wisdom and strength and guidance about whatever is going on in your life. This will help each journey in your life to be a successful one, and you will you live longer and better enjoy your life as well. 

Another person who has completed a journey this week, and who prays and tries to connect to G-d everyday, is Rabbi Naftali Michalowsky.  Rabbi Michalowsky has lived in Louisville for the past 7 years and grown and prospered in that time.  He had taught school in the Detroit area before moving here. Yet it was during his tenure here in Louisville that he truly blossomed as a teacher of both children and adults, in Louisville and around the world through his competent use of the internet.  I am pleased to have known him and to have him as a colleague and as a friend.  On behalf of the entire shul, I wish him much mazel and success in his appointment as Secular Principal at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Flatbush, New York.  

I would like to hope and pray that Rabbi Michalowsky and his family, Millie Weinberg, Dave Kahn, and especially Helen Wiesner who is celebrating her birthday at Kiddush today, all have many more happy, healthy and meaningful years. I hope they continue to succeed in all of their personal journeys, and that all of us continue to know G-d and feel G-d in our lives at all times, and let us say, Amain.