Matot-Masei 5772

Matot- Masei 5772 Chazak Chazak Venischzek- The power of Chizuk  1. This week we finish Sefer Bamidbar. In parshas Matos Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe  ask if they can stay on the east side of the Jordan and settle the land. Moshe chastises the people for the request and compares them to the spies.  2. What is the connection to the two events and why such a harsh rebuke from Moshe?  3. Both cases involved groups of people making comments that lower morale. This can be incredibly damaging to any organization or endeavor. When these tribes mentioned they did not want to go in to the land this could have had a corrosive affect on the attitude of the entire nation. Moshe understood the potential severity of the situation as he had experienced a similar case.  4. At specific moments in everyone’s life they can be more or less susceptible to outside influences. If you went on an interview at a firm and the secretary said this office is corrupt this would greatly influence your opinion. This is what Moshe was worried about and this is a key lesson. 4.  A new generation of Jews were ready to go into Eretz Yisroel, they were impressionable, in a fragile state. What they needed was words of Chizuk, which Moshe delivered to them in Sefer Dvarim.  Sefar Bamidbar teaches us our words can be very powerful and influential on others. We should continually give each other Chizuk. It is a great form of Chesed that has no cost and no limit.  *         Once a famous author was walking along the east river promenade and he was very depressed. He contemplated his life and his work , if it had any value and wondered why it was all worth it, he considered jumping over the railing and committing suicideJust as he was about to walk over to the railing and jump in someone walked up to him and excitedly exclaimed” Are you Christopher D’antonio, the writer?  I hope you don’t mind me saying this but I just had to tell you what a difference your books make in my life. They have helped me an incredible degree and I want to thank you. He turned to the stranger and said “ No my dear it is I who have to thank you” He turned around and walked home. Shabbat Shalom U'mivorach, Daniel