Courage & Fear

June 15-16, 2012 / 26 Sivan 5772

Shabbat Shlach Lecha

Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41 / Haftarah Portion: Joshua 2:1-24

“Courage & Fear”

Dear Friends,

Winnie the Pooh’s Piglet character frequently says, “It’s hard to be brave when you are only a very small animal.”  So it is.  That’s life.  We often feel fearful and small in the presence of events that overwhelm.  Yet, even when we fear, we must be brave.

In this week’s Torah portion, twelve spies are sent out by Moses to survey the Land of Israel.  They are to bring back a report so that the Children of Israel can prepare to enter the Land.  When the twelve spies return, ten are filled with fear and dread.  They frighten the people into a near rebellion against Moses such that the people want to go back to Egypt.  Only two spies, Joshua and Calev, remain strong, positive and resolute.  They tell the people not to despair. Rather, they should be courageous and go up into the land.  God is with them, they say.  Despite their fear, they are capable of living as free people in their own land.

Our Jewish tradition knows all about the human condition and psyche.  Of course, we have hopes and dreams.  We have plans and visions of a brighter tomorrow that lift us with optimism.  We also have the negative talk inside our heads that gives voice to our fears and worries.  We fear the unknown.  We prefer known hells to unknown heavens.  The nighttime trepidation can take the fight and power right out of us and overwhelm with dread. Yet, we must be brave.

This week’s Torah portion tells us to keep following our dreams in spite of our fear of loss and failure.  Our tradition tells us to follow Joshua and Calev and find our inner power.  Our tradition tells us to recognize God’s presence that upholds us and gives us strength.

When life has you down and the fear overwhelms, remember this Torah portion and the reassurance of Joshua who said, “Let us go up into the land, for we are surely able.”  Remember the prayer by Rabbi Hersel Matt that we often read at our Shabbat evening services:

When fears multiply

And Danger threatens;

When sickness comes,

When death confronts us –

It is God’s blessing of shalom

That sustains us

And upholds us.

Lightening our burden,

Dispelling our worry,

Restoring our strength,

Renewing our hope –

Reviving us.

L’Shalom (In Peace),

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow