Parshas Shelech Lecha- IN DEPTH

In this week’s parsha, Shelech Lecha, Bnai Israel was approaching the Land of Israel. Upon their ascent, members of Bnai Israel came to Moshe requesting for spies to investigate the Land. Bnai Israel wanted to investigate the Land in order to discern which route to take upon entering the land, and which cities they could easily conquer first.

The Cloud of Glory was directing Bnai Israel, why did they feel the need to investigate the land on their own?

Bnai Israel came up with a few excuses as to why they felt it necessary to explore the land:
1.    They said, “Hashem promised us a land of good and precious things; however, before our arrival, the Canaanites (current inhabitants) will conceal all the precious things Hashem has set for us, so it would be a good idea to send spies to see where they are hiding our precious things.”
2.    Bnai Israel even brought down a halachic proof to justify their desire to send spies into the land. They said to Moshe, “You taught us Moshe that if we are to capture idols for non-Jews, we are obligated to only destroy those that are actually being worshiped, and the Land of Canaan is land of idols, we must send in spies to know which ones we must destroy!”
3.    Furthermore, since Hashem promised to drive out the inhabitants to Canaan slowly, Bnai Israel wanted to ascertain which cities to attack first.
4.    Additionally, Bnai Israel wanted to determine the native language of the Land in order to uncover the inhabitant’s military strategies.
In actuality, Bnai Israel wanted to send spies into the Land because they had two doubts:

1.    Even though Hashem promised Bnai Israel that the Land was good, nobody had actually seen the Land and they were not convinced.
2.    Additionally, Bnai Israel only had a hand full of skilled warriors; therefore, they were worried about how to fight a war against an unknown army in an unknown terrain.
Bnai Israel’s concerns were undeniably understandable from a logically perspective; however, Hashem was extremely disappointed in the lack of emunah- faith- that Bnai Israel had in Him. Because of that, Hashem punished that generation by not allowing them in the Land (except for the Tribe of Levi and the women, they did not want to get involved with investigating the Land, for they had utter faith in Hashem’s guidance).

Moreover, despite the fact that Hashem knew the mission of the spies would fail, He nonetheless allowed them to send the spies in, for had He not they would say the following:

1.    Bnai Israel would assume the Land was not as good as Hashem had promised.

2.    Additionally, Hashem gave Bnai Israel free choice. Despite the fact that their request for the spies was improper, they could have come back and given a good report; however, they chose to come back with a negative report.

The twelve men to be chosen for the journey were worthy individuals. Although Moshe informed the Jews that Hashem permitted the spies to enter the Land, he was hoping that the permission given from Hashem would be enough for them to realize that the Land was in fact good, as Hashem had said before, and then they would reconsider the notion of entering the Land. Unfortunately, Bnai Israel did not have this realization and sent forth the twelve spies.

Moreover, after their journey in Israel, ten of the twelve spies came back with negative reports, while Yehoshua and Kalav came back with positive reports (to atone for the sin of the spies, ten men are needed to congregate and form a minyan).

From this we can see how the members of Bnai Israel were fearful upon entering the land and they did not trust what Hashem had in store for them in Israel; therefore, that generation of men was punished with being forbidden from enter the land.

Had Bnai Israel trusted in Hashem’s plan for them, and just enter the land without any hesitation, they would have spared themselves the additional 38 years Hashem had decreed to them in the desert. This should shed light into our own lives to trust Hashem and not second-guess His plans for us. Taking this a step further, sometimes we ask why Hashem causes these ‘things’ to happen to us (i.e., plans being canceled, traffic jams, tragedies, illnesses, natural disasters, etc.). However, we need to have trust in knowing that everything happens according to Hashem’s will.

Additionally, we need to recognize that the many unfortunate things that do happen are not happening in vain, but rather, there is a Divine purpose and plan to it all. Despite the sadness and tragedies that people face, we have to continuously have faith in Hashem, because in His infinite kindness and compassion, He only wants good things for His creations (the creation cannot ever fully understand it’s creator, especially since we can only understand the world and Hashem through our five senses, Hashem in His greatness is infinitely beyond that, hence we can never fully understand His ways, but nonetheless we must accept them as eternally good). 

Once we have internalized this message, we can start accepting our fates (not so say that we should sit around complacently and not try to change our lives) but realize, that some things are beyond our control. When we start accepting the undeniable facts of life and know that it’s many surprises are in fact from Hashem, we will show Hashem that we are hundred percent committed to His set path for us.

TORAH FOR YOUR TABLE! CHALLAH!

This week’s parsha discusses the mitzvah to separate a portion of one’s dough from one’s challah to give to the Kohanim. Bnai Israel was obligated to follow this mitzvah in Israel, when a majority of Jews resided there. However, the Rabbis instituted that the mitzvah of separating a piece of dough from one’s challah even outside of Israel so that the Jewish people would not forget this law. Nowadays, we have a custom to set aside a kezayit- the size of a matchbox –and burn it. Additionally, there is a certain bracha- blessing- one should say after separating the challah.

This mitzvah was ordained specifically for the women (although men can still partake in this mitzvah) in order to atone for the sin of the first woman, Chava. Adam was created completely pure and had no evil desires, thereby, he was called ‘the pure challah of the world.’ When Chava enticed Adam to sin, he lost his purity and he and his future descendents were cursed with a life of physical desires. By splitting the challah, we symbolically bring back the purity Adam had lost. When a woman separates the challah, essentially, she is rectifying Chava’s sin.

From observing this mitzvah, material wealth is brought to one’s home; however, famine is brought when neglected. Additionally, we should all strive to reconnect back to Adam’s initial purity, simply by separating one’s challah. The answer is simple; the hope is that it is practiced.

DVAR TORAH IN UNDER A MINUTE! TZITZIS!

This week’s parsha continues with the commandment for men to wear tzitzis, or fringes, attached to four corners of his garment, in order for men to constantly be aware of all Hashem’s other mitzvot.

As Hashem’s servants, we are bound to follow His commandments. The tzitzis, attached to each corner of the garment, serve to remind us of Hashem at every corner we turn and remind us to refrain from sinning. Additionally the tzitzis symbolize the two witnesses that are in front and behind a person in order to warn him from sinning.

Moreover, the halachot- laws- for the tzitzis are as follows: of the eight threads, with five knots in each corner, one of the eight threads must be of wool and dyed blue (techilas- bluish/purple- made from the blood of the sea creature -chilazon –snail type creature, which has been concealed from us.) Currently, tzitzis are deemed kosher with only white thread, symbolizing forgiveness of sin.

Furthermore, the pasok tells us, “And you shall look at it and remember all the mitzvot of Hashem and do them”  (15:39). In other words, wearing the tzitzis alone will we not magically prevent a person from sinning; the tzitzis are meant to be a reminder for a person to consciously choose to follow in the ways of Hashem.

Women are not obligated to wear tzitzis, because it is a time bound commandment. So to, my fellow ladies, we should find something that constantly reminds us of Hashem and motivates us to continue following Hashem’s mitzvot and help us refrain from sinning…perhaps eating chocolate or ice cream…as long as you say a bracha to remember Hashem’s kindness and greatness (especially for making such tasty treats!)

“Quotes that matter”

The prophets tell us,

“Although it (the Final Redemption) tarries, wait for it, it will surely come (Chavakuk).”

This week’s parsha, Beha’aloscha, discusses the greatness of the generation in the wilderness.  The generation of people who were traveling in the desert for forty years displayed such immense emunah- faith/commitment- in Hashem. The Jewish people did not ask where they wanted to travel; rather, they followed the Cloud of Glory, which dictated Hashem’s command. Wherever the Cloud rested, Bnai Israel rested. Whenever the Cloud camped or departed, so did Bnai Israel. Even when Hashem chose an unpleasant location to camp, (i.e. When the Cloud camped in Mara, where there was bitter and undrinkable water, Bnai Israel faithfully camped there. Also, when the Cloud arrived in a place with clean sources of water, as in Aliam, the Cloud departed immediately after, but Bnai Israel still followed the Cloud, reassuring their faithfulness in Hashem). Although Bnai Israel never knew where they would camp, or for how long, they nevertheless had absolute trust in Hashem leading the way. There were millions of people who were following the Cloud, babies, children, the young, and the old, yet Bnai Israel had such faith in Hashem’s directing their path, that they followed the Cloud regardless of their situation.

From the experience in the wilderness, the trust Bnai Israel had in Hashem was instilled in them for generations thereafter. Although we have been in exile for thousands of years, we nevertheless maintain our trust in Hashem and know that despite all the traveling, and the numerous exiles we have endured, the redemption will come and will be lead by the Source of all.

'Here Yeh Here Yeh Moshe has arrived!'

This parsha continues to discuss Hashem declaring that those who fear Hashem will be promoted to a position of authority.  Because of the fear Moshe had for Hashem, Hashem made Moshe the leader of the Jewish people. Hashem said that Moshe was equivalent to a Jewish king, and like a Jewish king, who has trumpets blown for him before going into battle, Moshe too, needed trumpets to be blown for only him.

Moshe’s trumpets were made of silver and contained special kedusha- holiness. Additionally, no other king thereafter was permitted to use them. The trumpets were blown during the following occasions:
1.    Signaling when Bnai Israel was to depart.
2.    To assemble the nation of Israel together.
3.    To assemble the nesi’im- leader of the Tribes- together.
Thereafter, Hashem commanded that a trumpet be blown for the later generations for the following reasons:
       1. During times of calamity, drought, plague, an enemy attack, etc. the essence of the blowing the trumpet was to signal Bnai Israel to cry out to Hashem for help, thereafter, Hashem would come and rescue them from danger.

Upon hearing the sounds of the trumpets, Bnai Israel would become alarmed and this would push them to teshuva-repent- in order to get Divine assistance from above.

Essentially, in times of personal or national distress, we should hear the blaring sounds of the trumpets within. Hashem is signaling to us all that He desires our teshuva. We must open our ears and hearts to the alarming sounds and recognize that these calamities are present because they are signals for us to change our ways and rekindle our connection with Hashem.

Omnivores!

The generation that lived in the wilderness was an extremely special generation. Because of their added kedusha-holiness- Hashem continuously put them through tests in order to purify them.

This week’s parsha goes into their next spiritual test. After eating the mann for three meals a day, everyday, since leaving Egypt, the airev ravs- Egyptian converts- were the first to start complaining about generating physical cravings (because the mann provided spirutal nourishment, the Jews were on such a high level that most people only needed spiritual nourishment). Some members of the Sanhedrin- Jewish court- also started to complain (however, their complaints were not publically vocalized).

Truthfully speaking, if the new converts really only wanted to satiate their physical appetites, they could have slaughtered any cattle that were herding along with Bnai Israel. From this we can see that their true desires were not meat, but rooted in a desire to go back to Egypt, where they could freely partake in any physical desire they wanted, without all the new Torah regulations.

Although the members of the Sanhedrin desired meat for different reasons, in order to fulfill certain mitzvot, and the airev rav’s desire for meat was rooted in their desire to live physically free, as they had in Egypt, (despite the fact that they saw Hashem’s awesomeness and they had been the generation fortunate enough to receive the Torah), they too had an evil inclination that they needed to keep in check.

We are all created with yatar haras- inclinations to sin-  giving us the choice to sin. Hashem did not create us to be robots; therefore, the evil inclination was created in order for us to use our good inclination to empower the evil. Despite seeing Hashem’s infinite greatness, members of Bnai Israel were still fighting their evil inclination. From that we can see if the holiest generation alive was inclined to sin, how much more inclined are we to sin?

Furthermore, if everything that Hashem does is for the ultimate good, then Hashem creating an evil inclination must also be good, right? But how can that be, an evil inclination being good? Without an evil inclination, we would all be good people and do good things by default, there would be no other motivation to do good, other than it is our nature. However, Hashem in His wondrous ways instilled within us all the good evil inclination in order for us to rise above the evil and conquer it, thereby, owning the good behavior (rather than it just being a natural motivation). Now tell me, who is in charge, you, or the little devil inside? The choice is yours.

TORAH FOR YOUR TABLE! ENOUGH KVETCHING!

Regardless of the sins of the generation in the wilderness, this generation was considered to be the holiest of all other generations. Although they sinned numerous times, and the Torah criticizes them over and over, we must recognize that because they were on such a high level, Hashem had higher expectations of them. Even though they complained and sinned, they continuously maintained their high levels of emunah- faith/commitment- for Hashem. Moreover, Bnai Israel never truly complained, at times they just let their yatar hara- evil inclination- get the best of them, but they were immediately able to overcome those negative motivations and serve Hashem with utter faithfulness and joy.

At times, we all complain about our lives and may be displeased with certain circumstances. However, we must look to the generation in the wilderness for guidance. Just as they were able to overcome their evil inclinations to complain, we too, can learn to overcome our desires to ‘kvetch’-complain- and cling to our Source with utter emunah.