Parshas Matot–Masei: The Journey Of Life

This week’s parshah recounts the many journeys and encampments of Kklal Yisrael in the wilderness. For 40 years, the Jewish people moved from place to place, facing hardship, growth, and Divine providence. Each stop is meticulously recorded in the Torah, as if to say: your journey matters.

I’d like to share a remarkable insight from Rav Dovid of Lelov zt”l, as I heard from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlit"a. The Midrash explains that the travels of bnei Yisrael in the desert mirror our people’s journey through this long, bitter exile. Just as each desert encampment was recorded by Moshe Rabbeinu, so too will every stop in our 2,000-year galus be recorded—for all of eternity.

But the Lelover Rebbe takes this one step deeper.

When Mashiach comes, Eliyahu HaNavi will write a sefer, chronicling not just the collective stops of klal Yisrael, but the personal struggles and triumphs of every Jew throughout exile. Every temptation you overcame. Every tear you cried. Every moment you chose kedushah over comfort. It will all be written.

We live in a world filled with distraction, with indecency, with challenges. But it’s also a world brimming with spiritual potential. When this exile ends, a sefer will be written about you—how you persevered, how you held on, how you kept fighting. It will be a record of your holiness, your battles, your faith.

Your journey will be sanctified.

There is a powerful story that captures this truth:

Before Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l came to America, he applied for a rabbinic position in Europe. It was a prestigious post, and Rav Yaakov was certain he was the most qualified. But to his deep disappointment, the job went to another man—someone of significantly lesser stature. Rav Yaakov was heartbroken. He didn’t know how he would support his family. His future felt uncertain.

Left with few options, Rav Yaakov made the difficult decision to move to America.

Eventually, he became a Rosh HaYeshivah at Yeshivas Torah Vodaath, and later recognized as one of the gedolei haDor. Years later, Rav Yaakov gathered his family and told them something chilling:

“The man who received that position—he and the entire community were killed by the Nazis. I had prayed so hard to get that job. I was devastated when I didn’t. But now I see: had I been chosen, none of you would be here today. Hashem spared my life.”

What a lesson in hashgachah pratit! Sometimes, the detour is the plan. The delay is the salvation.

Our lives may not always follow the map we imagined. But they are journeys of purpose, and every step is written in Heaven. Even in moments of darkness, Hashem is guiding us. He loves us. And He’s preparing something far greater than we can see.

Let us take Parshas Mattos–Masei to heart. Your journey counts. Your hardships are not forgotten. And one day, your story will be read aloud—in a holy sefer written by Eliyahu himself.

Aryeh Fingerer is a passionate Jewish speaker who connects with readers around the world through his meaningful and relatable divrei Torah. He’s dedicated to spreading positivity and strengthening our bond with Yiddishkeit through stories, insights, and timeless Torah values.
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