Wash Your Hands - Matos/Masei

Earlier today, I stopped an activity I was doing to wash my hands. Now, washing one’s hands is not crazy, not even newsworthy; it's something I do countless times a day. However, this time was different. When I washed my hands, I thought about the transition from a moment in time where my hands were dirty to a moment in time where my hands were clean. This simple act made me reflect on my life. I thought about all my experiences and how one moment can change everything. It can wipe the dirt from my hands and enable me to continue. I thought about how we all have our baggage, our scars, and our dirt from past experiences. These marks remind us of where we've been, but they don’t have to define where we are going.

In this week's parsha, Masei, we read about the many stops that the Jews made on their travels through the desert. Each stop represents a moment in their journey, a point of transition. These stops were not just physical locations but also opportunities for spiritual and emotional growth. Each one was a chance for renewal, to leave behind the past and move forward with a fresh perspective.

Just like washing our hands, we have the power to cleanse our lives at any moment. We don’t need to carry around the dirt of our past. Instead, we can choose to let go, to wash away the dirt of yesterday and face today with clean hands. The act of washing hands is a reminder that renewal is always within reach. So, the next time you wash your hands, take a moment to reflect. Think about what you want to let go of, what you want to cleanse from your life. And remember, no matter how many times you need to wash your hands, it is always available. Please join me this week, as I attempt to go from strength to strength leaving my dirt behind.

Good Shabbos

All the best

Avroham Y Ross