When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Mattot (מַּטּוֹת) and Parashat Maasei (מַסְעֵי), the 42nd and 43d weekly Torah portions in the annual cycle of Torah readings, respectively.
I also learned that the lunisolar Hebrew calendar contains up to 55 weeks, the exact number varying between 50 in common years and 54 or 55 in leap years. According to Wikipedia, in some leap years (last in 2014), Parashah Mattot is read separately. In most common years (from now through 2035 in the Diaspora), Parashah Mattot is usually combined with the next parashah, Maasei, to help achieve the number of weekly readings needed.
According to Wikipedia, Mattot (מַּטּוֹת), Numbers 30:2 through 32:42, contains 5,652 Hebrew letters, 1,484 words, 112 verses and makes up 190 lines of the Torah scroll. Mattot (the Hebrew word for “tribes”) includes the laws of vows, the destruction of Midianite towns and negotiations of the Reubanites and Gadites to settle land outside of Israel.
In contrast, Maasei (מַסְעֵי), Numbers 33:1 through 36:13, contains 5,773 Hebrew letters, 1,461 words, 132 verses and 189 lines of Torah and discusses the stations of the Israelites’ journeys, instructions for taking the land of Israel, cities for the Levites, cities of refuge and the daughters of Tzelophechad.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s double Torah reading, Mattot and Maasei:
“These 2 Sidrot, Mattot and Maasei , the final sections of the 4th Book of the Torah, Numbers, are so incredibly profound in their level of information that it is almost impossible to summarize both in only one article. Instead, I have chosen, to summarize these Sidrot with a series of probing questions.
- Why was it necessary for Moshe to be instructed on the Laws relating to vows before the people entered the Land of Israel?
- What correction did Moses make to the request of the tribes of Gad and Reuven to settle on the other side of the Jordan?
- Why did the Tribe of Levi also participate in the war against the Midianites?
- What was the purpose of the cities of refuge? Why was this revolutionary in the history of justice?
- How many places are mentioned in the 40 year journey of Klal Yisroel from Egypt to Israel? In how many of these locations did positive events or negative events occur?
- Why are we prohibited from constructing an “even maskis?
- Why was an extra letter Yud added to the name of Mount Sinai?
- Why did Moses need to seek G-d’s extra guidance in the circumstance of the inheritance of the daughters of Tzelophechad?
- How was this issue eventually resolved? Why is this revolutionary compared to the treatment of women in other cultures?
- Why was it important for each tribe to have specific tribal borders? How is this related to the Shemita and Yovel years?“
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
This moment of Jewish Learning is brought to you by the Florida Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC). We are part of a confederation of over 200 Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods representing over 20,000 members across the United States, Canada, Latin America, and beyond. Learn more about how your Jewish Men’s Club or Brotherhood can affiliate with the FJMC at: https://www.fjmc.org/content/affiliating-fjmc.
The Florida Region of FJMC serves the needs of affiliated Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods throughout the State of Florida. Get to know more about the FJMC Florida Region and our growing network of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Brotherhoods at www.floridaregionfjmc.org and please visit and LIKE our Florida Region FJMC Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/FloridaRegionFJMC.
About Post Author
