Israel-Hamas War 5784: Ain’t no river wide enough

This week, two Torah portions, Matot and Masei, are joined into one reading. Masei means “journeys” and recounts every stop the Israelites made on their long, circuitous march from Egypt to the Promised Land, 42 in all. Similarly, after the Roman expulsion of most Israelites from ancient Israel, later generations of Jews wandered from country to country before finally returning to Israel. Matot means “tribes” and speaks in particular of two specific tribes, those of Reuven and Gad.

After a final battle against the Midianites, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, the Children of Israel were ready to cross the Jordan and conquer the Land. But the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested that they be permitted to settle on the eastern side of the river. Moses rebuked them, asking “Shall your brothers go out to battle while you settle here?” (Numbers 32:6) Reminding them that G-d had promised the Land to the children of Israel and that the bad report of the spies had incurred His wrath, he warned them that their decision would likewise negatively affect all the people.

The Reubenites and Gadites then swore to go into battle with the other tribes to win the land on the western side of the Jordan, but still requested permission to settle on the eastern side once the war was won, and Moses granted their wish.

But Moses added that half the tribe of Manasseh would also settle on the eastern side with them. Neither the tribe of Manasseh nor the other two tribes had requested this. Why did Moses direct it?

Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, commonly known as the Netziv, said in his Haamek Davar (“Delve into the Matter”) that there was a danger that these two tribes, cut off from their brethren, would lose touch with Israel’s holy mission. The tribe of Manasseh included outstanding Torah figures. Not only would they be a good influence on the Reubenites and Gadites, by maintaining contact with their kin on the other side of the river, they would create a bridge for the other two eastern tribes to do so.

Since modern Israel’s founding, there has been debate about the relationship of Israeli Jews and Jews in the Diaspora. Should all Jews make aliyah? Is Israel the only proper home for Jews? Do Jews in the Diaspora have a right to comment on or try to influence policies and practices in Israel? Is Israel obligated to protect Diaspora Jews from Jew-haters?

And, most important, will Jews in the Diaspora become indifferent to or even alienated from their fellow Jews in Israel?

While there have been Diaspora Jews who disapproved of the Zionist project from its earlies days, disapproval has in recent years turned to active hostility by some. And in the aftermath of October 7th, we have seen an unprecedented turning against Israel and its current military response by not only non-Jews but Jews all over the world. Jews have actively aligned themselves with virulent expressions of anti-Zionism and allied themselves with groups that want the Jewish state to disappear. Some have even expressed support for Hamas. This has become such a concern that the Zionist organization Magshimey Herut North America recently gave a webinar titled “Handling Self-Hating Jews – Jews Who Have Refuted Their Jewishness, Their Judaism, and Israel.”

From Jewish Voice for Peace to Neturei Karta, some Diaspora Jews have divorced themselves from Israel. Unlike their ancestors from the tribes of Reuben and Gad, they are unwilling to fight with their brothers and sisters in the land against an implacable enemy.

Thankfully, they are a minority. The great majority of Diaspora Jews stand with their Israeli brethren. Lone soldiers from many countries go to Israel to literally do battle. Those who cannot fight fly there and volunteer their time and energy in myriad ways. Others donate money, lobby their elected representatives, and fight against anti-Israel resolutions from city councils to the United Nations. Some, like the half-tribe of Manasseh, have blood relatives in Israel. Others feel themselves to be family as fellow Jews. Either way, no matter how many stops our ancestors made along the way, and even if they are not physically in the Land, they are connected to Israel. And just as the Jordan River could not break the bonds between those on opposite sides, even oceans between them will not do so.

As the American songwriting duo Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson wrote:

Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough…
If you need me, call me…
If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there on the double…
Although we are miles apart, if you ever need a helping hand, I’ll be there on the double…

And so we will. Am Yisrael chai!