Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Footsteps of Messiah – Parasha Ma’sei

Weekly Sidra: Ma’sei (Journeys) Torah Portion: Bamidbar/ Numbers 33:1-36:13 Haftorah: Yermiyahu / Jeremiah 2:4-28; 4:1-4:2 Bamidbar 33:1 These are the journeys of the Children of Israel when they went out from the Land of Mitzrayim in their legions by the hand of Moshe and Aaron. אלה מסעי Eleh ma’asei - Hashem recounts the stages of the journey of Israel throughout the 40 years in the desert. A first it seems to be redundant, but we know that the Torah is not a document that wastes words, and each and every word is a world unto itself which holds spiritual meaning beyond the black and white of the scroll. Within the forty two stages of the sidra is the secret 42 Name of Hashem.[1] This understanding connects the end of the Torah[2] with the beginning of the Torah. For from the words, “In the Beginning,” until the words “which G-d created to make”[3] also contain the Name.[4] This is the reason we read continuously and not break up the creation narrative during the synagogue service as to not break up His Name.[5] With this in mind we can see that by naming the stages of travel and connecting them to locale, Hashem is telling us that it was Him Who brought us to the various places and was in control of it all. Rashi brings a mashal based the Midrash Tanchuma. The son...