The Ramban Rewind: To Deny the Deniers &The Importance of Remembering

If the Torah is so precise with every word and letter, why dedicate an entire 49 verses totaling over 300 words in Parshat Masei just to list the names of the travels of the Jewish people in the desert?

Ramban explains that the entire story is recorded to show Hashem’s kindness.

He first quotes Rashi and explains that the enumeration teaches us a surprising fact: the Jews did not wander constantly. Over a 38-year period, they only relocated about 20 times. This is part of Hashem’s kindness.

Drawing from the Moreh Nevuchim, the Ramban continue and expands with a deeper insight, Human nature, he explains, is quick to forget and even deny kindness.

Without this detailed itinerary, a future reader might assume the Israelites simply passed through civilized cities or villages en route to Israel. But by recording each desolate, remote stop, the Torah highlights the magnitude of Hashem’s care: miraculous manna, divine protection from enemies, safety from the harsh elements, and sustenance in barren terrain for four decades.

Simply put: the purpose of this lengthy travel log is to engrain Hashem’s kindness into the national memory so it can’t be denied or forgotten.

We don’t have to look far for this denial tendency. Continually unfolding in front of our very own eyes Holocaust denial continues and perhaps equally troubling, social media platforms are full conspiracy stories and the denial of the hateful destruction caused by Hamas on October 7. On a personal level, how often do we truly count our blessings? How often do we forget a favor done by a friend or a kindness from a family member?

In order not to deny, we must actively record, remember and retell.

Whether it’s the stories of past generations or moments of personal gratitude, journaling and sharing keep the truth alive. As it says in Tehillim, "Lo amut ki echyeh, va’asaper ma’asei Kah" "I shall not die, but live, and I shall recount the deeds of Hashem"

Parenthetically, we are not only encouraged to remember the kindness, but sometimes also not to deny the pain. The Three Weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av are all about remembering discomfort, loss, and absence. If we forget the pain of not having Hashem’s palace in our midst, if Tisha B’Av becomes just another date, what will drive us to truly long for His kingship on Rosh Hashanah?

 R’ Eman Chayim, a Los Angeles native and UC Irvine graduate in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management, is professionally active in manufacturing and fintech startup investing. He also serves as a Chatan teacher, and shares insights as a writer and speaker on a variety of Jewish topics.