Strong and Courageous

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

June 8-9, 2018 / 26 Sivan 5778

Shabbat Shelach Lecha

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

“Strong and Courageous”

Dear Friends,

What was the sin of the spies whom Moses sent to view the Land of Israel?  Only two years after the Exodus, the Children of Israel reached the border of the Promised Land of Israel.  Twelve spies were sent out and after 40 days, they brought back their report.  Two spies, Joshua and Calev, said that the Land was ripe for the taking and that the Children of Israel should advance now. But, the ten other spies reported that the people living there were giants and that the Children of Israel did not have a chance of succeeding, saying  “We are like grasshoppers compared to them.” Of course, the people panicked and rebelled against Moses and God.  For this reason, Israelites were sent back out into the desert for 38 years of wandering so that a new generation born in freedom would merit entering the Land.  Of the old generation, only Joshua and Calev lived to enter the Land.

What was the sin of the ten spies? For some commentators, the frightening report revealed how low was their self-esteem.  In their own eyes they were grasshoppers, weak, feeble, scrawny, and fragile. In their own eyes they were powerless and failures without even trying.

It takes courage, audacity, and boldness to master our “Promised Lands.” It takes belief in oneself and confidence to rise up and pursue our goals.  We Jews pride ourselves on a strong sense of ‘chutzpah’ to achieve and progress.  We Jews pride ourselves on our sense of self-assurance and vision to turn dreams into reality.  “Chazak v’Amatz” – be strong and courageous were Moses words to Joshua.  “Chazak v’Amatz” – be strong and courageous are the words that our tradition sends to each one of us as we seek our dreams.

Zay a Mentsch – Be a Good Person.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow