CANTOR’S CORNER

Cantor Eyal Bitton shares a few thoughts on prayer and the parasha of the week.

2023-07-15 Parashat Matot-Masei

When we recite the announcing of the new month prayer, as we do this coming Shabbat morning, we are reminded of the central place that Jewish national identity holds in our lives. Consider these two lines from the Birkat Hachodesh (the blessing of the new month):

1. “Redeem us and gather our dispersed from the four corners of the earth.” (“Hu yigal otanu b’karov vikarev nidacheinu me’arba kanfot ha’aretz.”)
2. “May the Holy One bless this new month for us and for the entire people, the house of Israel, with deliverance.” (“Yechadesheu haKadosh baruch Hu aleinu v’al kol amo beit Yisrael.”) 

Found in this prayer is this expression of the enduring hope of the Jewish people for a homeland.

This longing for a homeland is a powerful and unifying force that shapes our religious and national identity, regardless of where we live. The establishment of Israel in 1948 was a momentous event that brought this dream to fruition and continues to define our sense of belonging and connection to the land. Many of you have heard me make this point before, and I keep underlining it because I believe it is central to our religious and national identity, as well as a pivotal event that continues to shape us.

When we recite the line “may the entire people Israel be united in friendship,” (“chaverim kol Yisrael”) we are reminded that our national identity is not just about geography, but also about unity and brotherhood. We are one people, whether we live in Israel or elsewhere, and regardless of our differences in religious practice, cultural background, or language. We must strive to treat each other with respect and understanding, and to celebrate our shared heritage as one community. What happens to Jews in Israel, happens to us. What happens to us here in America, happens to Jews in Israel. We are one.

In Parashat Matot-Masei, we see the importance of both individual agency and communal responsibility in shaping our national identity. The tribes of Reuben and Gad had the right to settle outside of the land of Israel, but they also had a duty to consider the impact of their decision on the larger Jewish community and the preservation of Jewish national identity. We must always balance our individual choices with our responsibility to the community as a whole.

As we announce the new month, we are called to reflect on the enduring hope for a Jewish homeland, the importance of unity and brotherhood among all Jews, and our individual and communal responsibilities in shaping our national identity. These are the values that define us as a people and that continue to inspire us to work towards a brighter future for ourselves and for all of humanity.