In a world filled with loud opinions and polarizing headlines, it’s easy to feel unmoored. The feeling of safety isn’t just about physical protection, but emotional and spiritual refuge. Whether it’s from rising antisemitism, social instability, or injustice in our systems, the need for compassionate leadership and safe spaces—a safe world—is more urgent than ever.
Parshat Matot-Masei, the final double portion in the Book of Numbers, bridges endings and beginnings. In Matot, we encounter laws about vows and tribal responsibilities. Masei recounts the Israelites’ wilderness journey with a list of 42 encampments—each a waypoint on the road to becoming a people ready for the Promised Land. Among the legal and logistical details, we find a remarkable institution: the Arei Miklat—Cities of Refuge. These were designated places where someone who had accidentally caused harm could flee for safety and await fair judgment.
The concept of Arei Miklat embodies the tension between accountability and mercy. It acknowledges that harm can occur unintentionally, and that a just society must differentiate between guilt and accident, between vengeance and justice. Embedded in the system is not only legal wisdom, but deep empathy.
This idea echoes through the Amidah: “Restore our judges as in former times … and reign over us in lovingkindness and mercy.” We pray not just for law, but for leadership tempered with compassion. The verse invites us to imagine a world where fairness and care coexist—a community where refuge is real.
We may not have cities of refuge today, but we can create sanctuaries of spirit and justice in our homes, synagogues, and institutions. This week, may we recommit to being a community of thoughtful leadership, where truth is spoken with kindness and justice is pursued with humility. Let us be known not only for what we build, but for whom we shelter.
Rabbi Eve Posen 