I remember waiting in line for the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. It was a very long time ago and I have almost no recollection of Liberty Island itself, but the line to the ferry was memorable because two street entertainers did flips and somersaults which I thought were awesome.
In this week's parsha we learn how the Jews - on the threshold of inheriting the Promised Land - divided the land between each other in a dramatic public ceremony. The land was divided into 12 districts based on area-units of equal fertility. The names of the twelve tribes were written on 12 tickets and placed in a box and the 12 districts were written on 12 tickets and placed into a different box.
Elazar the High Priest was garbed in his priestly garments which included the miraculous breastplate with stones engraved with names of all the tribes. Looking at the Choshen, Elazar prophetically called out which tribe would choose which district. Then a prince from each tribe placed his hand in the box of tribal names and picked out the name of his tribe and then placed his hand in the box with districts and miraculously pulled out the district Elazar had just determined.
If that sounds amazing, here is what happened next: The ticket on which was written the inheritance miraculously spoke, saying, “I, the lot of such-and-such a region, have become the inheritance of such-and-such a tribe.” Last week we read about a talking donkey and this week we discover that pieces of parchment spoke in front of the masses! Why was it necessary for G-d to perform such a miracle to prove that their inheritance was fair? Was not Elazar’s prophecy and the dramatic lottery itself not sufficient to prove this point? We have a tendency to regard preparations as technical distractions and try to rush through them to get to the point. I mostly skip book introductions, don’t enjoy preparing my own meals and get annoyed when waiting in line. But that’s what we do most of our life - prepare and wait. Although the lottery was just a preparation for the inheritance of the Promised Land, it was such a dramatic and miraculous event to teach us that we need to focus on our preparations with the same attention and energy as we focus on our goals. Wherever you are at the moment, be there one hundred percent. Today we live in a reality that is a preparation for something bigger and better. An era when there will be no suffering, jealousy, competition or strife. But as we live through the preparation for the wonderful era of Moshiach it’s crucial to appreciate that today’s reality is meaningful as well. We must engage in perfecting our imperfect world with the same gusto and relish with which we will surely enjoy the beauty of the perfect world to come.