Parshat Masei
The number forty-two, the number of journeys mentioned in this portion has many deep associations in Kabbalah (See Orchard of Delights on this portion). One of these associations is connected to Abraham. The prophet Isaiah exclaimed in God’s name: “But you, Israel My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, who loved Me” (41:8).
The numerical value of the phrase “the seed of Abraham, who loved Me” (zera Avraham ohavi) equals 543, the same as the name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush – “I Will be What I Will be.” It is discussed in Kabbalah that the word in Hebrew for “I Will Be,” E-hiyeh – א-היה , equals 21. When the two names of God [E-hiyeh], are added they equal 42 (21+21), the same as the number of journeys experienced by the seed of Abraham. This alludes to the idea that our journeys in life are the way we realize on a human level how I will be what I will be.
Parenthetically, when the two names of God from the full name “I will be What I will be,” are squared [21×21] they equal 441, emet – אמת , “truth.” Based on this, the Sages teach that God’s seal is truth, emet. It is interesting to note that Jacob and Abraham are spoken about in another verse: “You shall give the truth of Jacob, the loving-kindness of Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from days of yore” (Michah 7:20). It is taught in Kabbalah that squaring a number reveals its full manifestation. We can learn from this that each person’s fulfillment of their potential is what establishes their own unique truth.
In the very first communication from God to Abraham He instructed him to leave his land, his birthplace and his father’s home in order to journey to the land that God would show him. The Torah records as well many other journeys undertaken by Abraham. One statement regarding the journeys of Abraham uses the same root word as the name of this Torah portion, Masai: “And Abram traveled [vayisa], continually traveling southward” (Genesis 12:9). The direction of south relates to the sefirah of chesed, the attribute most associated with Abraham. Therefore, this verse is interpreted in Chassidut to mean that wherever Abraham was traveling, he was always going southward, always towards chesed and deeds of lovingkindness.
The idea that Abraham was always traveling with an attitude of lovingkindness is connected to a teaching by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, who notes a deep connection between the forty-two journeys in the desert and the forty-two times the Hebrew root for “love” (ahavah) appears in the Five Books of Moses. This teaches us that each of the journeys in the desert and each person’s journey through life, occurs within the overall context of God’s love and concern, for ultimately God desires the best for each and every person. Life of course has its constant challenges, yet knowing that the journeys of life are meant for our good should give us strength to rise to the occasion.
An important statement by the Sages attests that “the actions of the fathers are a sign to the children” (Sotah 34a). The thoughts, speech and actions of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs not only paved the way for their children but are archetypal in nature, engraving reality for all future generations. The words of God to Abraham, lech lecha, “go to yourself,” reveals not only a physical journey, but, also an inner journey. Similarly, every journey taken by Israel during the forty years in the desert was not just a journey from place to place but from one challenge and opportunity to another. The dynamic of “go to yourself” applies to every person in every generation. Abraham was the trail blazer for each and everyone of us.
