Matot-Masei with Rabbi Ariana Silverman – Jewish Journal

This week's Torah part – Parashat Matot-Masei (Numbers 30: 2-36: 13) – begins with Moses presenting the tribal chiefs with rules concerning the & Tor se 39 39 39 39 39 39 cancellation of vows. The war is waged against Midian and the Torah lists the various remains Israel seized in their victory and describes how they are distributed. The tribes of Gad, Reuben and half of Menashe ask Moses the territory east of the Jordan as their share of the promised land, and Moses finally accepts on the condition that they help first to conquer the western part of the Jordan. The boundaries of the Promised Land are stated, and the cities of refuge are designated as safe havens for those who commit an inadvertent murder. The party ends with the story of Tzelafchad's daughters marrying men from their own tribe (Menashe) in order to keep the estate that they inherited from their father within their own tribe. Our conversation focuses on the demand of the two and a half tribes for the land and what this episode could teach us about conflict resolution.