Rabbi Israel Rider Reflects on Moses’ Humility and the Shagat Aryeh’s Blessing in Matot-Masei

Rabbi Israel Rider offers a special teaching on the Torah portion Matot-Masei, drawing lessons from the story of the Shagat Aryeh, Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shargorod. After being removed from his position as chief rabbi of Minsk, the Shagat Aryeh stayed with a righteous widow named Blumka, who prepared three special wheat rolls for him before Shabbat, knowing he avoided new grain. At the end of Shabbat, he blessed her that just as she hosted him, God would grant her the merit to host in Jerusalem, and that through the three rolls she would merit to build three synagogues: two in exile and one in the Land of Israel.

Years later, after the Shagat Aryeh’s passing, Blumka visited Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin to report that she had already built two synagogues and now wished to immigrate to Israel to complete the third. Rabbi Chaim advised her not to rush, reminding her that she still held the "insurance certificate" from the Shagat Aryeh, meaning as long as she had not built the third synagogue, she was assured a long life.

Rabbi Rider connects this idea to Moses’ story in the Torah portion, where God commands Moses to wage war against Midian before his death. This can be seen as Moses’ own "insurance certificate," implying he would not die before completing this mission. Yet Moses does not delay his departure, demonstrating ultimate humility and submission to God’s will. The sages describe Moses as someone who "does not hold on to his life," prioritizing divine will over personal interest.

Rabbi Rider suggests that during the period between the festivals (bein hametzarim), a time for self-refinement, we should emulate Moses’ humility and self-nullification to God’s will. He prays that we merit to follow Moses’ path and soon witness the rebuilding of the Holy Temple.