Bemidbar

Discussion of the praise of Eretz Yisrael (also called Eretz Hemdah) is a worthwhile thing to do during the Shabbat of Parashat Shelach – to counteract the sin of the spies. Happiness about the rebuilding of the “Desired Land” atones for the crying on the night after the evil reports were given, which became set as the day for national mourning (Tisha B’Av).

The parasha and the haftara share the theme of a gold menora. In the parasha, it is an actual menora, of the Mishkan/Beit Hamikdash (Bamidbar 8:2-4). In the haftara, it is a prophetic vision that represents the emerging leadership in the community that returned to Zion after the destruction of the first Temple, who were involved in the rebuilding of the Temple (Zecharia 4:2-3). Even though this haftara is also read on the Shabbat of Chanuka, we have proved elsewhere that there is no connection between that menora and the events of Chanuka.

The gemara (Shabbat 88a) learns from the pasuk, “They stood at the bottom of the mountain” (Shemot 19:17) that He held the mountain over them like a tub, threatening them that if they did not accept the Torah, “There would be your grave.” So it turns out that after Bnei Yisrael willingly accepted upon themselves, before the Torah was given, to keep all the words of the Torah, they still needed to be threatened. Many commentaries wonder about the need for this, and several answers have been given.

Weekly Shiur of Rav Jonathan Sacks for the weekly portion "Bamidbar"