““Our Mishpachah -- Our Obligation to our Family in Israel””

Matot Masei 5766, July 21, 2006
Rabbi Judith Schindler

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner once wrote that “Home is where they have to let you in simply because you’re you. And family are the people who live there. They are the ones whom you get, whether you like them or not.”

As Jews, our mishpachah, our family, is not just the family into which we were born, our family is also our congregation, our community, American Jewry as a whole, our Israeli brothers and sisters, Jews anywhere in the world.

Tonight, in this portion called Mattot Maasei marking the end of the book of Numbers, we learn about our obligations to this greater family and to our fellow Jews in Israel. As we stand at the edge of the Jordan about to enter the Promised Land, two of the twelve tribes, Reuben and Gad, love the land on the Eastern banks of the Jordan so much that they propose something radical, perhaps even heretical. They ask Moses if they can stay outside the land rather than entering Canaan, for that land is good for raising cattle.

At first Moses is stunned and angered by this request saying, “Are you brothers to go to war while you stay here?” But then he accepts their appeal on the condition that they make a promise. Before settling outside the Promised Land, these two tribes must commit to being the “shock troops,” the first to go into battle. The Gadites and Reubenites promise not to return to their homes outside Canaan until every one of their fellow Israelites is in possession of his portion of land.

Like the Reubenites, and Gadites most of us have made the active choice to remain outside Israel. And like the Reubenites and Gadites, we also have a responsibility to support our brothers and sisters who are there.

Rabbi Leon Morris notes that it is our job here in America, like the tribes of Reuben and Gad, is to serve as shock troops for Israel, looking out for its interests in the political arena, and raising money for its upbuilding.

The reality is that our fates, in Israel and the Diaspora, are inextricably bound one to the other. We would do well to remember that in the eighth century BCE when the Assyrians conquered our land and carried off the ten tribes, the Reuvenites and the Gadites were carried away with the others. From this history, we can derive a modern analogy: “If Diaspora Jewry were to fall, Israel would be greatly threatened and vice versa.”

The reality that Israel is a part of our family has become even more evident to me over the past two weeks. There is not a place I go where I am not asked about the crisis.

I have many siblings of my own, I am one of five, so I keep in my files the following piece on what it means to be a sibling. I have adapted it to guide us in our relationship with our Israeli siblings.

When our Israeli brothers and sisters suffer, let us in America comfort them.
When our Israeli counterparts prosper, let us rejoice with them.
When our Israeli cousins are attacked, let us defend them.
When our Israeli kin are oppressed, let us relieve them.
When our Israeli family is needy, let us gladly give to them.
And when our Israeli sons and daughters give to us, let us accept graciously from them.
For they and we are family.

Today our Israeli brothers and sisters are suffering, let us send cards and calls of support to bring them comfort.

Today our Israeli brothers and sisters are being attacked, not only with ketushahs but with critics, who do not understand their plight.

Let us support Israel with our minds by learning about the conflict so that we can be informed advocates.

Let us support Israel with our bodies, by attending a Charlotte Rally in support of Israel this Sunday at 5 o’clock pm in front of the Rotunda entrance of the JCC.

Let us support Israel with our resources by making donations through Beth El to the URJ Israel Emergency Fund.

And let us support Israel with our souls, by keeping its security, safety and peace continually in our prayers. Amen.