Weekly Message 07.25.2025 Parashat Matot-Masei

Parashat Matot-Masei (Tribes-Journeys) Number 30:2 - 36:13

HafTorah Jeremiah 2:4-28; Jeremiah 4:1-2; Isaiah 66:1' Isaiah 66:23-24;

Isaiah 66:23

Dear friends,

I'll be joining you this Shabbat on Zoom from Bordentown, NJ where Chris and I are visiting family and friends.

This week, we finish the Book of Bamidbar which essentially concludes the long journey in the wilderness. The fifth and last Book of the Torah (Devarim or Deuteronomy) is basically a rehash of previous events. We end the Book of Bamidbar with the double sedrah of Mattot-Masei where final instructions and laws are handed down largely regarding the making of vows, the spoils of war, destroying idolotry, boundaries, cities of refuge, inheritance, and other matters essential to establishing a holy community in the land of Israel thus completing the final stages of the long journey.

As we think about those on the brink of entering the land, we must recommit ourselves to protecting all of our lands, the environment, and most of all the people. We need to remember the mitzvot that we have been taught through the first four Books of the Torah and apply them to our lives and our communities. As we are in the midst of the three weeks of mourning our lost Temple and the destruction of Jerusalem during the Babylonian and Roman conquests, we recall how the Hebrew nation lost its way prior to thoses catastrophies and how easy it is to lose one's moral compass in today's world.

Let's take heed from Jeremiah's final words in this Shabbat's 2nd of 3 "Haftorahs of Rebuke" as we prepare for Tisha B'Av. To paraphrase the prophet's words: if we return to Adonoi, put away our detestable things and live the rest of our lives in truth, justice, and righteousness, we will surely be blessed! We conclude the reading and study of Bamidbar with "Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek" or "Be Strong, Be Strong, and Let us Strengthen One Another"!

Our Shabbat services will take place at the usual times (7:30 pm this evening and 9:30 am on Saturday) and will be in-person and virtually on Zoom.

Also, please don't forget and make an effort to attend our reading of Jeremiah's Book of Lamentations (Eicha in Hebrew) on Tisha B'Av morning on Sunday, August 3rd at 9:30 am. And, in order to help enable our shul to continue to serve our community, please sign up for our next volunteer session at Metropolitan Ministries which will take place on Thursday, August 21st from 11 am until 2 pm at their headquarters on Route 19 in Holiday. To sign up, just follow this link. https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK

!חזק חזק ונתחזק

Shabbat Shalom,

Ron Becker,

Spiritual Leader

__________________________________________________

ZOOM LINKS FRI & SAT:

JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Shabbat Services 07/25 @ 7:30 pm, 07/26 @ 9:30 am

Time: This is a recurring meeting Fri & Sat

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4979030958?pwd=YXJPT2FGVTdzVVV2bVQ3c1ZnS1lMZz09&omn=82666606437

Meeting ID: 497 903 0958

Passcode: 5QdVaA