World Traveler

“These are the travels of Bnei Yisrael….” (Bamidbar 33:1)

The parshah lists the 42 encampments of Bnei Yisrael through the Desert. The Baal Shem Tov says that every Yid will travel 42 times in his lifetime, too.

These travels don’t necessarily mean moving from one place to another or from one country to the next. In its simplest meaning, we learn that everyone experiences 42 different situations in his lifetime. There are years when things are going quite well and years with hardships, wealthy years and poorer years.

It’s essential to remember that each station and situation in life is destined by Hashem. (Rav Elimelech Biderman, Torah Wellsprings)

I’m not a travel person. I love to see new places, but getting there… isn’t there an app for that?

Years ago, though, my daughter was learning in Gateshead, and as a byproduct, was enjoying her flight stopovers all across Europe. When she found insanely cheap tickets to Switzerland, she was determined to drag her sisters and me along for the ride. I’d always wanted to see Switzerland, so I figured the tirchah would be worth it. Cheapo tickets had us landing in Basel, Switzerland, where we planned to rent a car and then drive to the mountains.

One of the first stops in the Desert was Marah. The Torah says, “They weren’t able to drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter…” (Shemos 15:23). Hashem could have brought them to a different area where there was drinkable water. But Hashem wanted them to have this test, and planned it accordingly.

The flight went without a hitch. We landed in Switzerland and made our way to the Avis counter.

“I’m sorry, madam,” the clerk said in clipped European English.  “We have no reservation for you.”