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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
This parable can also explain to a degree what takes place in this week's parsha with the story of the 'spies' (meraglim). Perhaps, we can learn how one should deal with the challenges in life. How should we approach difficult situations in our journey towards "Tikkun Olam"?
Who Is Your "Tour Guide"?
It all begins when Am Yisrael sends leaders of the tribes to survey the land of Canaan (Bamidbar 13:2). Why is this so significant? That is because this action is so different from the original plan. Just one week ago, in Parshat Behaalotecha, we read that only two years after leaving Egypt, G-d's plan was to have Am Yisrael enter the Land of Eretz Yisrael within three days! Therefore, Hashem had them walking three times faster than a regular human pace. Surrounded by a special cloud and the Divine presence, they were heading straight to Eretz Yisrael (Rashi Bamidbar, 10:33). A miraculous anan (cloud) leveled mountains and raised valleys. In this ideal protected atmosphere, they were not even supposed to use weapons (Rashi: Devarim, 1:8). They were simply commanded to enter the land and settle it. Hashem was going to take care of all the hard work for them. The "tour guide" was not a human being-- but rather the Holy Ark. The Torah even uses the same verb as the spies to describe the Ark's function- "latur", or 'search out' (Bamidbar, 10:33). The Ark was three days ahead of them, already waiting for them in Eretz Yisrael. Moshe even asked for the Aron (Ark) to wait for the people (Rashi, Bamidbar 10:34).
Now we can understand the trouble the nation is heading for. Is the tour guide human or is it the Ark? If led by human guides, they will end up analyzing and opening on the current situation or things to consider, i.e., will it be easy to capture in battle? Is it good for agriculture? What are the consequences? What will the future bring?
The Gap between Heaven and Earth
When the spies arrive in Israel (Canaan) they see a large population of giants. The people and the fruit are massive (Bamidbar 10: 23-28). These dimensions are unrelatable to the Jewish people. How could they ever "jump" into such great shoes? This can resemble the struggles that every one of us has in life where we don't feel that we are capable of "jumping " higher to get to our next stage. How do we respond? How should we respond? The parsha gives us a few "models":
Model A
Some of the Jewish people demand to return to Egypt (14:4). How can this be so! They were lowly slaves over there! Yes, they were slaves but at least the Egypt that they knew was a world that fit into their human understanding. Therefore, some would choose to forgo stepping up to the "Erertz Yisrael level" because of the human dimension. They could not combine heaven and earth, so they chose earth.
Model B
Some chose to remain in the desert. In essence, they chose to stay in heaven, surrounded by the miraculous Holy Clouds, and other daily, ongoing miracles. There was no desire to try and connect heaven to earth (Admor Hazaken, Torah or, Shelach).
Model C
Yehoshua and Kalev claim that the Nation can indeed reach this great level of life. Yehoshua claims we can surely succeed- with God's help (14:8-9). They counsel the people not to worry as there is Divine Providence. We will take out our swords and weapons. We will have to fight our enemies and grow our crops on earth but we will maintain our connection between heaven and earth. This spiritual energy will give us the strength that we need to beat the giants.
Kalev is ideologically together with Yehoshua, but his claim is a bit different; Kalev visits Hevron and the Cave of the Patriarchs to pray and get inspiration to succeed (Rashi, 23:22). He is basically saying- I am a giant! My great grandparents were giants so I can also emulate them and live up to the high level of Eretz Yisrael. I am not as tiny as I feel. If we are told to go up to heaven, then we will bring ladders and climb up (Rashi 13:30). In other words, we are capable of advancing and elevating ourselves. Once we start, we will discover the significant powers that exist inside our unique character.
Model D
The 'Maapilim' (those who pushed ahead) decide that they are going to make Aliyah whether Hashem agrees or not. They travel and advance without the Ark against Hashem's word (14:40-45). They feel that they do not need His approval. Unlike Kalev, who leaned on the forefathers, the Maapillim don't take this path of advancement. They consider themselves worthy on their right, already giants. Although they might have had good intentions, this was not the proper way of entering Eretz Yisrael and they predictably fail.
Dealing with Challenges in Life
To conclude, this week's parsha gives us an amazing understanding of how one should approach the many challenges in life. a. Do not give up and rely on your former low level (Egypt) b. Do not avoid the challenge by opting for the status quo in staying in the perfect environment, namely, the desert. c. Don't get confused into thinking that you are worthy and have nothing that needs fixing and improvement (Maapilim). The right approach is to believe in your powers, believe that Hashem will help you in a natural manner and that you can climb upwardly step by step and with great success (Yehoshua and Kalev). We learn what is the correct path on our journey to connect heaven and earth in Eretz Yisrael, the land of the giants.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
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.
