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Orchard of Delights
and the final rectification of the world would occur. Despite his noble
intentions, God informed Moses that the time had not yet arrived mattOt ת ֹו ּ ט ַמ
for these redemptive acts. The world was simply not ready. Despite
this explanation, the question still remains, how can we expect our
prayers to be granted if such an exalted individual’s were not? And
if so, what is the point of praying if not to be granted what we pray
for? £The Unique Qualities of a VowThe Unique Qualities of a VowThe Unique Qualities of a Vow
££
The answer to this question is that God does listen, accept, and
respond to all our prayers. However, we may not always hear or
understand His answers, nor like nor accept them immediately. “And Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel
We should not forget that according to Jewish tradition every saying: ‘This is the matter that God has commanded’” (Numbers
individual’s thoughts, words, and actions are recorded and have an 30:2). In commenting on Mattot’s opening verse, Rashi notes that
effect. Nothing is ever lost and no prayer in the bigger picture is in there is a difference between the prophecy of Moses and that of all
vain. the other prophets. While all the prophets, including Moses, often
If so, we must ask, what was the effect of Moses’ prayers? By introduced their prophecies to the people with the phrase “Thus
praying so intensely and deeply to enter the Promised Land, Moses God says,” Moses also occasionally began with the phrase, “This is
imbued the Jewish people for all eternity with the passionate desire the matter that God has commanded.” These phrases allude to two
to be connected to the Land. Although he did not personally enter different types of prophecy. All the other prophets received their
the Holy Land, he bequeathed to all the Jews who lived in exile the visions through what has been traditionally described as an “unclear
will power and desire to never give up the hope of returning to the hazy lens,” while Moses spoke to God “face to face,” receiving
Promised Land. his visions through a “transparent lens” (Vayikra Rabbah 1). The
difference between these two forms of prophecy is alluded to by
History has in fact tested the tenacious faith that Moses bequeathed the contrast between the word “thus,” which implies a slightly less
to his people. Even 2,000 years of exile did not extinguish the Jewish precise level of prophecy, and the phrase “this is the matter,” which
people’s burning desire to return to their homeland. And we, who connotes a very precise rendering of God’s directives. In other words,
have merited to either visit, live for a while, or settle in the Land of other prophets received what were inherently “unclear,” symbolic
Israel in this day and age, are the living proof and answer to Moses’ dream visions that they had to translate into an allegorical language
prayers. The potency of his prayers was tremendous; in fact, not one appropriate for their audiences. Only Moses received and transmitted
of his 515 pleas was lost or in vain. We must comprehend this notion the actual words “spoken” directly by God.
of prayer and integrate it into our own lives.
Mattot begins with the laws concerning vows and opens with the
This concept of prayer may also explain why the text of the words we have just discussed: “This is the matter that God has
Shema, Judaism’s cardinal statement of faith in the unity of God, commanded.” Although this phrase appears elsewhere, it is fairly
appears near the end of Va’etchanan, and not earlier in the Torah. uncommon; therefore, we must wonder why Moses specified that this
When everything is going our way, it is easy to believe in God and is exactly what God commanded, in this particular case.
experience His Providence in every aspect of our lives. The true
test of faith arrives when we feel that God is distant, that he is not The Jewish approach to making vows is complicated by the fact
answering our prayers. Perhaps, the Shema is revealed in this portion that our Sages taught that it is much better not to make vows
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