True Satisfaction “To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe.” — Numbers 26:54–55 The Torah portion for this week is Pinchas, which means “Phinehas,” from Numbers 25:10–30:1, and the Haftorah is from 1 Kings 18:46–19:21. “Who is rich?” ask the Sages in the Talmud. Is it the person with the most money? No. Rather, the Sages answer, it is “he who is satisfied with his lot.” Elsewhere the Sages teach, “He who has 100 wants 200.” It’s not about how much we have, it’s about how satisfied we are with what we have. Whether we have a little or a lot, our sense of wealth comes from a decision to take pleasure in what we have. In this week’s Torah reading, God told Moses to divide the land of Israel, which the people were about to enter, among the 12 tribes. Moses had just finished counting the people and God instructed him, “To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one …” Moses was to assign the land according to the needs of each tribe. However, God continued with this directive: “Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.” Although Moses had already assigned the portions in theory, they were to be determined by lot in practice. Miraculously, the lottery results were consistent with the configuration that Moses had already determined. The Sages explain that the distribution of land had to be done by lots so that one tribe would not be jealous of another tribe’s allocation. All would be done by lottery so that there could be no doubt that the outcome was ordained by God and that it was just and fair. We can learn much from the way the Israelites received their portions in the Promised Land. On the one hand, it seems random – determined by the luck of the draw. On the other hand, we know that it was determined by God and that each tribe received exactly what it needed. Wanting a larger portion would be like wanting a shirt that is too big. It may look nice, but it’s not manufactured to suit our body. That’s the way we need to approach our own “lots” in life. One of the first blessings that we recite in Jewish morning prayers thanks God for “providing for me all that I need.” God knows what I need and gives me what is best for my particular situation. Another person’s allocation would not be suitable for me. Happiness doesn’t come from having more. If that were true, then we would have statistics proving that richer people are happier, more productive people; but that’s not the case. Judaism has a saying: “The more wealth, the more worry.” Wealth has its downsides, too. We need to know deep down that we have exactly what is best for us right now – not more and not less – and be happy! With prayers for shalom, peace, Rabbi Yechiel
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:10:05 +0000
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