Looking For Purpose
Life Lessons from the Torah Portion Parshot Matot-Massei Numbers 30:2–36:13
According to the Forbes report, Israel is the second happiest country in Asia (after New Zealand) . According to an OECD study of 36 democratic countries, Israel is marked the sixth after the Scandinavian countries regarding Life Expectancy.
Despite the Army service, terrorism and war, endless bickering and open faced arguments, the life expectancy of Israeli men is the fourth highest in the world, according to the World Health Organization and in the top ten for Israeli women. Israel also was ranked the fourth-best place to raise a family, in a poll conducted by the InterNations expat networking service.
There are many people in the world, including those living in the land of Israel, who would be surprised at these statistics. What then is the secret to happiness that has been discovered in Israel?
Very simply put, it is purpose!
People in this land wake up every morning with a sense of being purposeful. They may disagree, at time very loudly as to what that purpose may be, but the ability to define for themselves a "purpose" is the secret to happiness.
How then does one discover their own purpose?
Clearly as Jews we believe there is a common purpose in our existence. That is best described as doing all that it takes to be “the language of G-d”. The commandments of the Torah that relate to our relationship with the Infinite Creator are a tool to reveal His impact and Presence in our reality. The commandments of the Torah that relate to the relationship with each other, reveals the G-dly Presence in each and every one of His creations.
Yet as Jews we also believe that each individual created being has a very unique and personalized purpose in our world. According to the great 16th century Mystical teacher Rabbi Yitzchak Luria- HaAri Hakadosh , each person has a unique, and individualized purpose to fulfill, a purpose that only they can do. The world cannot achieve its ultimate purpose until each soul strives to achieve its small part in that purpose. How, then, does one find that unique “small part” in our unique and personal lives?
The Torah text in the Torah portion of Massei gives us much insight on the matter;
“These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moshe and Aaron. Moshe recorded from their starting points to their journeys (motza-eyhem lemasa-eyem) according to the word of Hashem, and these were their journeys to their starting points. (masa-eyem lemotza-eyhem)” (Numbers 33:-21)
First we read “from their starting points for their journeys and then the verse says “their journeys to their starting points“. What are you to learn from the repetition of the idea and the change in the order?
The first is to never lose sight of where we came from and let our memory serve as a guide. The second teaches us to never lose sight of the goal. Those two points of reference , the “starting points to their journeys” and the “journeys to their starting points “ give one the insight and courage to walk the long voyage.
The context and the direction of the voyage is now made clearer .Yet how can we determine the purpose of each of our individual voyages?
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that ;”The forty-two encampments from Egypt to the Promised Land are replayed in every individual’s life, in his journey from his soul’s descent to this world at his birth until his return to his Source.” That is to say each stop and encampment becomes an important rung in terms of ascending the ladder.
We are often frustrated by our desire to find ultimate purpose and grand design. Regrettably such a desire and passion can be crippling due its grand scope. The big picture can become overwhelming.
These verses teach us that true purpose is found in the little picture that is revealed right before your eyes. Each individual encampment, whether that encampment presents rest or challenge, is the only purpose we need to contend with. It is the challenge and the opportunity. That encampment may be a personal encounter with another traveler, a difficult situation in life or a completely new set of parameters and circumstances. Yet every one of those encampments must be lived, experienced and dealt with in order to “Go Forward”.
We enter each of those encampment equipped with our past, our experiences and our memories. In addition we enter with our future, our hopes and aspirations. Yet our focus must remain on the little picture Hashem has revealed before us. It is there that purpose is found
The verse says “These are the journeys of the children of Israel going out of the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt). (Numbers 33:1). The Alter Rebbe explains that the word for Egypt -Mitzrayim is sourced in the Hebrew word Meitzarim or constraints and obstacles.
These then are the journeys out of those obstacle strewn periods. Focus on each situation and in dealing with that situation one will grow in the direction that he or she yearns for.
LeRefuat Yehudit Bat Golda Yocheved
