Rabbi Heller's Blog

Sometimes you just need a little space. Hebrew the word “migrash” can be used to mean that. Literally it means a plot of land. So a “migrash hayanah” is a parking lot, a “migrash kaduregel” is a soccer field. In the unique Hebrew dialect of American Jewish camp, it is used to describe many more areas of the campsite. In the Torah, it has a unique meaning, as part of God’s plan for the Israelites as they were getting ready to settle the land of Israel. It is a commandment that has implications for our physical and spiritual lives. 

This week we read Mattot Masei where the Israelites begin preparing in earnest to enter the Land of Israel, mapping its boundaries and determining who will carry out the allocation. The members of the 12 tribes would be living in the countryside, since they would be farmers and shepherds living near their fields and ranges. However, the Levites would be teachers and religious leaders, so it did not make sense for them to live on farms. Instead 48 would be set aside for the Levites. One of the 613 commandments is that each of these cities were to be surrounded by a “migrash.” Depending how one interprets the text, this space extended 1500 feet or even 3000 feet around the cities in every direction.

What was this land for? The text itself seems to hint that it was a place for cattle to graze, but the commentators don’t stop there. The Talmud explains that the first 1500 feet were for cattle, and then a larger zone radius was reserved for fields and vineyards. Perhaps even though the Levites were city dwellers, they wanted to be able to grow some of their own produce. Other commentators suggest that it served a military role: open space around the city makes it easier to protect against attackers. Rashi explains that it is for beauty, since a city is more attractive if it is surrounded by open space. 

We can appreciate the need for migrash, as a principle of zoning.  If you live in a city, every bit of green space matters. Even if you live in the suburbs and your house has a nice backyard, life would not be the same without with open parks and playing fields nearby. Having access to big open spaces gives us a different feeling.

One of my favorite physical parts of B’nai Torah is the quiet, shaded area between the synagogue and the hotel that keeps on changing names. Friends of the synagogue purchased it over 15 years ago, so that we would have the space. While the house at the front is used for storage, what makes it special is the fact that most of it is a refuge of quiet space in a busy neighborhood. We use it for kids to play, for outdoor services, even for our “synadogue” where our dog owners get together. We are currently exploring how to use this space even more regularly and intensely without spoiling what makes it such a treasure.

We can also think about the migrashes that we have in time. We can get overwhelmed by having something we have to do at every moment of the day. Shabbat is the classic buffer zone where we can recharge, though holidays and vacations serve that role as well. Just as a city is more beautiful with open space around it, we can appreciate our crowded days better when we have open time.