A Long Road
Save from experiencing a nevuah (prophecy), a person is never going to know where he is going in life… Even the greatest navi (prophet) to ever live, Moshe did not know where we, Bnei Yisrael were going.
We started in Ramses, Egypt… and traveled from Ramses to Sukkoth.
We traveled from Sukkot to Eitam, which is in the middle of the desert. Eitam to Pi haChirot, which is near Ba’al Tz’fon.
Bnei Yisrael camped in front of Migdol.
Pi haChirot through the Yam Suf (The Red Sea).
They traveled for 3 days in Eitam and they camped at Marah. They traveled from Marah and they came upon Eylim, and there, there were 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees, and they camped there.
They traveled from Eylim and camped by the Yam Suf (The Red Sea).
They traveled from the Yam Suf (The Red Sea) and encamped in the wilderness of Tzin.
They traveled from the wilderness of Tzin and encamped in Dophkah. They traveled from Dophkah and encamped in Alush. They traveled from Alush and encamped in Refidim where there was no water for the people to drink.
Then they complained about it all, which is completely understandable.
They traveled from Refidim and encamped in midbar Sinai. They traveled from the midbar Sinai and encamped in Kivrot Ha’ta’avah.
They traveled from Kivrot Ha’ta’avah and encamped in Chatzerot.
They traveled from Chatzerot and encamped in Ritmah. They traveled from Ritmah and encamped in Rimmon Perez. They traveled from Rimmon Perez and encamped in Libnah.
They traveled from Libnah and encamped in Rissah. They traveled from Rissah and encamped in Kehelathah.
They traveled from Kehelathah and encamped in Har Shepher. They traveled from Har Shepher and encamped in Harada. They traveled from Harada and encamped in Makhelot.
They traveled from Makhelot and encamped in Tachat.
They traveled from Tachat and encamped in Terach.
They traveled from Terach and encamped in Mitkah.
They traveled from Mithkah and encamped in Chashmona.
They traveled from Chashmona and encamped in Moserot. They traveled from Moserot and encamped in Bene Yaakan.
From Bene Yaakan and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.
They traveled from Hor Haggidgad and encamped in Yatbat. From Yatbat they traveled to and encamped in Evron. They traveled from Evron and encamped in Etzion Gever.
From Etzion Gever they traveled, and encamped in the wilderness of Tzon, which is Kadesh.
They traveled from Kadesh and encamped in Har Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom.
42 encampments in 40 years.
Interestingly, at the end of our reading of all these places, and our knowing the fact that bnot Tzlafchad married within their tribe of Menashe so that their land apportionment would stay within the family, we, the current Bnei Yisrael say chazak chazak v’nitchazek.
We gird each other with strength at the end of every book of the Torah … why?
Because life is long… and the Torah is a constant.
No matter where we travel.
No matter how arduous the road.
My family has a tough road to travel, and it’s a long road to hoe.
It’s accessible in someways… And not in others.
The path is smooth, but there are some dips, curvatures, and pebbles along the way.
And sometimes we complain, and it is understandable.
But no matter where we travel, or how arduous the road , Torah is our constant.
If you can help us down this road, to help us be stronger, please donate at the link below : https://thechesedfund.com/hopeinaction/herzfeld-family-fund