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Beit Midrash
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"They despised the Coveted Land" (Tehillim 106:24). Did they despise it, or did they just fear the dangers involved? Midrash Tanchuma (Shelach 5) brings an ostensibly inaccurate parable. A king selected the most wonderful bride for his son. The son asked to see her before agreeing to marry her because he did not believe his father. The king decreed that his son would see how wonderful the girl was but would not marry her; rather, the son’s son would. For the story to be parallel the son should have seen the girl and rejected her. More accurately, he should have been scared off by fear of rival suitors and not trusted his father’s promise to defend him. What do we make of the comparison as is?
The parable has a deep message, comparing the Land reserved for Bnei Yisrael to a beautiful bride selected for a prince. Popular culture and experience teach that a man who is really in love will do most anything to "secure" the woman he wants to marry. Obstacles and even danger will not deter him. Had Bnei Yisrael been as enthralled with the Promised Land as they should have been after Hashem’s promise, they would not have asked to check it out. Similarly, the fearful reaction to the spies’ evaluation was a further sign of their initial lack of enthusiasm. Otherwise, love would have made them cast fears aside and prepare to overcome the obstacles. (Those with an eye on Israeli politics could claim a modern parallel). Thus, Bnei Yisrael’s fate was already set when their indifference prompted the scouts’ mission, as the midrash implies. The rest was just playing out the plot.
The midrash teaches additional lessons. The king knew that he wanted the woman as mother of his dynasty’s future generations. He also wanted his son to have the pleasure of her companionship. When the son proved unworthy, she entered the king’s family at the next stage. Following the parable through, we see a not so rosy picture. By the time the prince begot a son of marriageable age, the bride had aged and was presumably not as fit for her new groom as she would have been for his father. Similarly, the generation that should have had Israel as a "mother" had the desert as a "mother" and Israel as a "wife." While still a wonderful "wife," one has to suspect that the delay of a generation was more than a matter of time but hindered the next generation’s chances of developing in the ideal manner.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.