By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman
This week’s Parsha Perspective is dedicated by Mr.
Binyomin Philipson in memory of his late
mothe Mrs. Ellen (Elka bas Zisel) Philipson OBM
Is it the money or the man, the cash or the kids? Of course,
no one would ever admit to putting money ahead of their children; but is it not
an all too common phenomenon? Aren't most parents, even good parents, guilty of
making that mistake now and then?
In this week's Torah portion, Parshah Matos-Massei (Bamidbor [Numbers] 30:2-36:13) the Jewish
People are preparing for the conquest of Canaan and the allotment of the
Promised Land amongst the twelve tribes of Israel, when the tribes of Reuben
and Gad make a special request of Moses.
They had abundant herds of livestock and the land east of
the Jordan River was especially suitable for grazing. They asked Moses if they
could receive this land rather than land west of the Jordan. In making this
request they expressed themselves thus: "Pens for the flock we shall build
here for our livestock, and cities for our small children."
Immediately, Moses chastises them and corrects their
mistake. "Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for
your flock." Moses turns around their sequence, putting the children ahead
of the animals.
Rashi observes that these tribes were more concerned about
their money, i.e. livestock, than they were about their sons and daughters.
Moses needed to give them a lesson in values and priorities. Put family first.
Possessions come later.
The question is, are our own price tags correctly marked? Do
we value the things in our own lives correctly? Are our priorities in order? Or
do we too put the cattle and the sheep -- the car and the office -- ahead of
our children?
How many workaholic husbands have told their wives,
"Honey, I'm doing it all for you and the kids." But the businesses we
are busy building for them actually take us away from them in the most
important and formative years of their lives. Rightly has it been said,
"the best thing you can spend on your kids is not money but time."
Many people become "successes" over the years.
They achieve professional success, career success, business success, growing
their fame and fortunes. Too many in the process have become family failures.
At the end of the day, our deepest satisfaction in life comes not from our
professional achievements but from our family -- the growth, stability and
togetherness that we have nurtured over the years -- what our Jewish parents
and grandparents simply called Yiddishe Nachas.
To paraphrase the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef
Yitzchak Schneersohn, "Jewish wealth is not measured in property
portfolios or stocks and bonds; true Jewish wealth is being blessed with
children who walk in the ways of G-d." For that, we need to be there for
them and with them.
(Excerpts from Chabad.org - from Rabbi Yossy Goldman)
May you have a
meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!!
