parshat Massei

Near the end of Bamidbar, we encounter the law of the cities of refuge: three cities to the east of the Jordan and, later, three more within the land of Israel itself. There, people who had committed homicide could flee and find protection until their case was heard by a court of law.

The story in which the Torah saw fit to end the Book of Numbers is the story of the daughters of Tzelofhad. It is precisely close to the Book of Deuteronomy, before entering the Land of Israelץ

Even justified acts of bloodshed, as in the case of war, still communicate impurity. That is what lies behind the idea of revenge.

Even justified acts of bloodshed, as in the case of war, still communicate impurity. That is what lies behind the idea of revenge.

...Outside the Land of Israel, our engagement with the physical world comes at the expense of Torah and sanctity. We in fact see that the Torah studied in Exile shuns in an extreme manner many areas of natural life. Only when the Nation of Israel is in the Land of Israel is "normal," natural life enabled – for, in fact, even that which is material and physical is holy...

It's hot outside. We all feel it in the scorching weather. The spiritual principle that is important to remember during such periods appears in the Torah portion of Masei

The Sedra of Matot maps the route of Am Yisrael from Egypt to the threshold of Israel. There are 42 encampments along the way. I suggest that, like every other word in the Torah, they have cosmic, eternal significance.

The combination of these two sections of the Torah constitutes the question, as to whether there is a connection between these two Parshiot, or is it just a matter of calendar convenience that unites them is one Torah reading on this coming Sabbath.