These words of Torah are dedicated to the soldiers risking
their lives in Gaza- may it serve as a protection.
As my
belongings slowly make their way into boxes and I prepare for the impending
journey to Boston, I wonder- do I have the right to leave Israel? Maimonides says that a Jew is forbidden to
leave Israel except under certain conditions: to make a living, to learn Torah,
to marry a wife, or to rescue Jews from persecution.[1] So, I suppose I do qualify on the first two
accounts, and if I were going to France, I might have the last reason in my
pocket as well. However, beyond the technical, there could be deeper reasons to
spend some time away from the holy land, and it is not because of rockets.
The initial
hesitation to make Israel the universal Jewish homeland came from two tribes
that decided to call present day Jordan their home instead. They cited superior
fodder for their large flock. A
question emerges, though, that requires explanation. How could the most spiritual generation in
Jewish history have a large percentage of its population still prioritize
material wealth over spiritual growth?[2]
We see
from Moses’ response that he didn’t have a problem with the concept of staying
in Jordan for the sake of their flock. He
challenged them on the abandonment of their brothers at a time of war. So, they
replied that there was no concern for abandonment, and that they would only
settle after Israel was completely conquered.
But, not all was kosher as we do see that these two tribes were the first
two to be exiled.
The reason
there was no issue with the request is because material wealth is not
necessarily a contradiction to spiritual growth. All matter in this world, not just in Israel,
can be used in an ethical way that increases Divinity in this world. In
potential, the greater the material, the greater the spark it produces when
used for a noble purpose. And each person needs to find the place where they
can best accomplish that. Gad and Reuben thought that they
could best actualize their potential in Jordan, and it could be they were
right. The only catch is that the more material
something is, the more difficult it is to flip it towards a holy purpose; the physical
world’s magnetism is naturally suited towards our ego. There are hints that
despite their desire to fulfill their purpose, some desire for materialism had
in fact ensnared them. The commentaries
point out that they put their flock before their children.[3]
A little
incident highlights the two perspectives. This week, I pulled around a blind
corner into the other lane (thanks to some illegally parked cars) and a car came
in the other direction. We met with the
impact of a low speed bumper car.
Luckily, both cars were aged and have their fair share of wrinkles. The
damage was minimal and with such low expectations for material beauty, the
incident was relaxed and both sides decided to let go of any claims. With less material expectation, life flows
easier. I know in America that won’t fly. Once there is a heavier emphasis on
the material, it takes on a life of its own even with the best of
intentions.
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