בס "ד

Parashat Matot
One of this week’s Torah reading is called Matot (the other is called Masei). Among other stories, the Torah talks about the revenge of God against the people of Midian and the passing of Moshe. Whats is the connection between these two subjects?
Based on Maamarim HaKatzarim p. 102-103

Nothing Happens by Chance

Nothing in this world happens by chance. Even when the Torah places two seemingly unrelated subjects next to each other, their connection has meaning. The Torah does not arrange its narratives randomly.

In the portion of Matot, we find two subjects that, at first glance, appear to have no connection. First, G-d commands Moses to gather an army and carry out His vengeance against Midian. Immediately afterward, the Torah states that once this mission is completed, Moses will pass away. Why are these two subjects linked?

The Seventy Nations Within Us

The Sages teach that the seventy nations of the world are not merely historical peoples. They also represent spiritual and emotional qualities within every human being. The seven emotional attributes, each containing ten aspects, correspond to these seventy nations.

In this sense, every person—Jew and non-Jew alike—contains these “seventy nations” within. Each of us has different traits, challenges, and areas that require refinement. We come into this world with work to do.

According to the concept of reincarnation (gilgul), some souls return having already worked on certain aspects of themselves and therefore come into life with particular advantages. Nevertheless, if we are alive today, it is because there are still things we need to accomplish and refine within ourselves.

Your Life Reflects Your Spiritual Work

The inner work that a person must do is often reflected in the circumstances of his life. The place where you live, the people you encounter, the language you speak, your culture, and even the way you earn your livelihood all express something about the work you came into this world to do.

Nothing is accidental. The environment in which you find yourself is, in many ways, connected to the lessons and challenges that your soul needs in order to grow.

The Meaning of Midian

In the case of Moses, his life was deeply connected with Midian. He married a Midianite woman and spent many years there. But the significance of Midian goes beyond geography.

Le mot Midian can be associated with din, meaning “judgment” or “law.” Moses was a man of law, entrusted with transmitting the Torah and its commandments. Midian can also be connected to madon, meaning “strife” or “conflict.” Moses had to struggle—both externally and internally. He had to confront challenges among the people and also work on his own character, including overcoming anger and refining himself.

Midian therefore represented the very areas of life in which Moses had to grow and fulfill his mission.

Completing Our Mission

This explains why the Torah connects the battle against Midian with the passing of Moses. Once Moses completed the task that was uniquely his, his mission in this world was finished.

There is an important lesson here for all of us. We are alive because G-d has given each of us work to do. We have a purpose, a mission, and specific areas in which we must grow and refine ourselves. When that mission is complete, we move on to the next stage of existence.

Embrace Your Challenges

The challenges you encounter, both within yourself and around you, are not accidents. They are often the very reason you are here.

Therefore, do not be afraid of personal growth. Do not be afraid to work on yourself, to confront your weaknesses, or to develop your strengths. The place where you live, the culture you belong to, the language you speak, and the circumstances of your life all reflect the work that has been entrusted to you.

Nothing happens by chance. The challenges of your life may very well be the clues that point to your unique purpose in this world.

Good Shabbos.

Discours du rabbin Tuvia Serber


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