A Redemptive Reconciliation
An alternative approach to understand an oddity in the Jewish calendar.
There is an interesting oddity that occurs every couple years with regard to the Jewish calendar. If you look back a few millennia, we find that the Jews of Eretz Yisrael had a three year Torah reading cycle and the Jews outside of Israel had a one year cycle.
Somewhere along the way this changed to a universal one year cycle. For the most part we are on the same page in this cycle. However, when Israel celebrates a chag on Friday, the next day, Shabbos, is a regular weekly Torah reading. However, outside of Israel, chagim are celebrated for two days, therefore they only read the regular weekly Torah reading the next Shabbos. When this happens, we end up on two different tracks with the Torah reading cycle, until an opportunity arises to reconcile and get on the same page.
This oddity is cause for confusion and some halachic debate in regard to travelers as to what parashah they must read. In fact, President Biden mentioned this oddity during his recent visit to Israel.
I have always wondered why we wait until the double parashah of Matos - Masei to catch up with those in Eretz Yisrael? (It is split in Israel, and joined together outside of Israel.) After all, we can split Behar - Bechukosai as well and then the entire Sefer Bamidbar can be read together.
A friend explained to me that this is not about reconciling the calendar at all. It is about how the calendars were developed. There is a rule in the Jewish calendar that Parashas Devarim needs to be read the Shabbos preceding the Ninth of Av. In order for that to work, those in Israel need to split up Matos - Masei and those outside of Israel can just keep it together.
I would like to offer an alternative approach.
The theme of Sefer Bamidbar is a preparation for entering Eretz Yisrael. Our goal is to reach Eretz Yisrael. We must not forget that goal. With this oddity in the calendar, those outside of Israel have been starkly reminded every single week about Eretz Yisrael.
The Baal Shem Tov and others1 have taught us that the 42 journeys detailed in Parsha Masei, is parallel to the 42 letters in the name of Hashem. It is also parallel to 42 different phases in the life of a person in this world. Finally, it is parallel to 42 phases of the Galus until we reach the Geula.
In my mind, I am envisioning a board from The Game of Life with 42 pivotal stops along the way.
I would like to suggest that the reason we wait until Parashas Masei to reconcile the calendar, is because this is the Parashah of the Geulah. This week, as we catch up with each other and get on the same page, let us not forget the true goal - to get back home to Eretz Yisrael. May we all merit to complete the 42 step journey with the completion of the Geulah.