Mattot:
This week’s Maor VaShemesh explores two very different episodes, hatarat nedarim and the request of the tribes of Reuven and Gad, but uncovers a common theme. In the first, he explains that the annulment of a vow is far more than a legal mechanism. It reflects the deeper reality that genuine teshuvah can transform a person at his very core, sweetening harsh judgments at their source. The vow can then be annulled because teshuvah has transformed the person who made it, and he is no longer the same person.
In the second, he argues that Reuven and Gad chose to settle east of the Jordan not because they valued Eretz Yisrael less, but because they wanted their participation in conquering the Land to be completely lishmah, free of even the slightest trace of personal benefit.
While the common understanding among the commentators is that Reuven and Gad’s request reflected a misplaced preference for material comfort over the holiness of Eretz Yisrael, and even Moshe himself initially compared them to the spies, the Maor VaShemesh offers a strikingly different interpretation. He sees their request as an extraordinary expression of spiritual integrity.
In both teachings, the Maor VaShemesh directs our attention beneath outward actions to the inner heart of avodat Hashem. What ultimately matters is not only what we do, but who we become through teshuvah, sincerity, and the continual refinement of our intentions.
Massei:
This week’s Maor VaShemesh presents two distinct teachings. In the first, drawing on the Chassidic tradition that the Torah’s record of Bnei Yisrael’s journeys is meant to guide every generation, he explains that the forty-two journeys through the wilderness are not merely a historical record, but a map of every Jew’s spiritual journey.
Each stop represents another stage in personal growth, from overcoming laziness and immersing oneself in Torah, to mastering one’s desires, deepening one’s love and awe of Hashem, and ultimately discovering holiness even within the ordinary world. Once a person has truly conquered his desires, he can engage the world around him without being ruled by it.
In the second teaching, the Maor VaShemesh offers a novel explanation for why the title of Nasi, the tribal leader, is omitted from the names of Caleb, Shmuel, and Eldad. The omission itself serves as a subtle hint that these were individuals who had already demonstrated a willingness to relinquish honor for the sake of Heaven.
Precisely because they did not pursue honor, they ultimately received it. The Maor VaShemesh reminds us that spiritual growth is measured not only by the heights we reach, but by the character we develop and the values we refuse to compromise along the way.
Use this source sheet for Matot and this source sheet for Massei, complete with footnoted sources and a concise, footnoted bio of R. Kalonymus Kalman Epstein (Ma’or Va-Shemesh) to enjoy this teaching at your own pace, perfect for self-learners.
Prepared by Rabbi Shalom (Saul) Orbach
The Ma’or Va-Shemesh is a classic Hasidic commentary on the weekly portions and festivals by R. Kalonymus Kalman Epstein of Kraków (1751-1823). A foremost later disciple, and for years the Shamash, of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, he emerged after his rebbe’s passing as a leading figure in the fourth generation of Chassidut and of Polish Hasidism. His Torah blends close reading of the Psukim with mystical depth, emphasizing Dvekut, heartfelt prayer, joy, and sanctifying the everyday, with a hallmark leadership ethic: the tzaddik sweetens judgment into mercy and draws people close.