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Why Does the Torah Record the 42 Journeys?
Looking Back with Gratitude
The Torah gives an actual commandment to remember all the journeys where the Jews traveled in the desert. The Sha’arei Teshuvah explains that this is, in essence, a broader commandment for one to remember all the good God has given him throughout his journeys in life. And so, the points of travel mentioned are for the sake of the Jews to think back and appreciate all the good God has granted them at each place. In fact, the Midrash (Bamidbar 33:1) says explicitly that the reason God told Moshe (Moses) to list these points of travel in the Torah is in order for them to appreciate the miracles which occurred to them in these places.
A Living Example of Remembering Hashem’s Kindness
I personally have witnessed this mitzvah (commandment) performed publicly many times by a very special person. My wife’s grandfather, Dr. Sorscher, experienced a life-threatening heart disease a number of years ago and was in need of a heart transplant. Since he was a middle-aged patient, his case was not given high priority, and he expected himself to languish indefinitely. One day, he was caught by surprise with a phone call from his doctor. The doctor on the line informed him, “A heart just became available for you and we will be operating on you soon.”
Ever since, Dr. Sorscher has not stopped telling about the tremendous gift he was granted from Heaven.
This isn’t the only episode which he recounts. At the annual family Chanukah party he recalls in detail various salvations his family experienced: the story of his baby daughter (my mother-in-law) who was diagnosed with meningitis at an advanced stage and nearly died; the story about how his little boy was found by a neighbor hanging outside their apartment window, many stories from the ground, and came close to falling down; and many more of the like.
Don’t Let Your Blessings Be Forgotten
We all have experienced our own journeys in life. The more we live, the more we have to tell about. Some of us like to remember the hard times we had, and some of us prefer to forget about them. But how many of us make a point to think back to all the salvations we experienced from these difficult situations?
We ought to keep in mind that this isn’t merely a matter of a nice habit; it is an actual mitzvah obligating us to do so regularly. The more we live, the more things we have to appreciate. While life may be full of challenges, at the same time there is so much good bestowed upon us throughout life. Every stage of life which we experienced had its blessings. In addition, in some form or another, we all had cases in which we were spared from impending danger.
Your Own 42 Journeys
We must not get caught up entirely in the present and forget about all the good we had coming to us until now. We need to consciously and routinely take at least a few moments every so often to think back and thank God for the various acts of kindness He has done for us throughout our journeys of life.
By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber
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