בס”ד
Parashot Matot – Masei This week’s reading contains two subjects that even though they appear to contradict, they are very connected.
Introduction
Parashot Matot – Masei This week’s reading contains two subjects that even though they appear to contradict, they are very connected.
This week’s Torah portion actually combines two readings. It’s not just that two sections were simply glued together — rather, it’s one reading that contains two general ideas. In fact, in most years, we read these two portions together. Therefore, it’s important to extract a lesson for our lives from the connection between these two ideas.
What are the two parts?
The first one is called Matos, which means sticks.
The second is called Masei, which means journeys or trips.
Let’s explore what that means.
At the beginning of Parshas Matos, Moshe is speaking to the heads of the tribes about promises. Specifically, he’s teaching the laws about how vows work — and how, if someone makes a vow and regrets it, they can approach a sage or leader to annul that vow, following a certain process. That’s why Moshe addresses the leaders of the tribes — because they are the ones who need to understand these laws in order to guide others.
In the second section, Masei, the Torah speaks about the journeys that the Jewish people made — from Egypt all the way until they were about to enter the Land of Israel. In total, the Torah lists 42 journeys.
Now, at first glance, these two ideas — sticks and journeys — seem to contradict one another. “Matos” (sticks) suggests something firm, fixed, solid — something that stays in one place. “Masei” (journeys) implies movement, change, progression — traveling forward.
So how can these two opposite ideas come together? Staying put vs. moving on?
To understand this, we need to look deeper into what each concept teaches us.
First, Matos — Sticks:
A stick is strong, firm, and unbending. It symbolizes strength, and in a certain sense, pride — the kind of pride where a person says, “I know what I stand for. I know what’s right.”
Now, pride is usually seen as a negative trait. The Talmud has many warnings about arrogance and how it distances a person from truth and from G-d.
However, the same Talmud also says that a person needs a tiny amount of pride in order to live correctly. It calls this “an eighth of an eighth” — that’s 1/64 — of pride. Just a drop. Why?
Because without that little bit of inner strength and dignity, a person might be too easily influenced — by their own negative desires or by the criticism or mocking of others. People might say things like, “Oh, you’re becoming religious now? You think you’re a tzaddik (righteous person) now?”
If a person doesn’t have any pride, they might be swayed or discouraged by that negativity. But with a little strength — the kind symbolized by a “stick” — a person can say, “This is the truth, this is what G-d wants, and I’m not backing down.”
So Matos represents that positive kind of strength and pride — the kind that allows you to stand firm in fulfilling G-d’s will.
Second, Masei — Journeys:
When the Torah lists the journeys of the Jewish people, it uses the phrase: “These are the journeys by which the Children of Israel left Egypt…”
But here’s the question: Why is it plural — journeys — when really, it only takes one journey to leave Egypt? Once you step out of Egypt, you’ve already left!
The answer is that “Egypt” in Hebrew is Mitzrayim, which comes from the word Meitzarim — meaning limitations. So Egypt doesn’t just refer to a physical place, but to anything in life that limits a person spiritually or emotionally.
And in life, you don’t leave your personal “Egypt” in one step. Yes, maybe you break free from one limitation — but then you find yourself facing another. Every time you grow, you enter a new stage… and that new level comes with its own challenges and limits.
So the process of spiritual growth is continuous. You’re always leaving “Egypt” — again and again, rising beyond the next limit, and then the next one, constantly becoming closer to G-d.
That’s why the Torah uses the word Masei — journeys, plural. Life is a journey of ongoing personal and spiritual development.
Putting Them Together — Matos and Masei:
So again, Matos means firmness — standing strong and knowing who you are.
Masei means movement — growth, transformation, not staying stuck.
How do they work together?
In order to move forward, you need to be firm.
Growth and progress require inner strength.
And, just as an aside — if this is what G-d wants from you, He also gives you the strength to do it.
So that “stick” — that inner backbone — is what allows you to keep moving through the journey. You’re not just being tossed around by life. You have direction, purpose, and strength.
And that strength is what allows you to grow. And then grow more. And then grow again.
Because the path toward holiness, toward G-d, never ends. G-d is infinite, so there is always more to grow, more to learn, more to refine. But it starts with strength — knowing that you’re capable, that you have a mission, and that G-d gives you the power to fulfill it.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
The above is a representation of the spoken text converted to written text.
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