Dear Friends,
We end this week and head into Shabbos with our minds on Israel. Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the holy land, and we who find ourselves elsewhere in the world can only imagine the heavy feeling of an entire country holding its breath moment to moment. It is especially apropos that we read Shelach for this week's Torah Portion, in which the Jewish people send spies into Israel.
This Torah Portion holds a special place in my heart, not only because it was my Bar Mitzvah Torah Portion, but because of its timeless message for the Jewish nation as a whole and for every person as an individual. The Jews in the desert were nervous about entering the land of Israel, so G-d allowed them to send twelve spies to scope out the situation and report back.
When they returned, they famously frightened the others with their accounts of giants occupying the land, supported by the enormous fruit they brought back. And here is where they made their one and only error. Not in recounting the facts––there were actual giants inhabiting Israel at the time––but in jumping to the conclusion that their presence would thwart the Jews' ability to enter the land.
G-d had already told them that they would conquer Israel and settle there. That was the Jewish nation's mission and destiny. The purpose of sending the spies, therefore, was not to see IF they could enter the land, but rather HOW.
And isn't this so often the case with us? Everyone has a mission in this life. Every soul, every Jew, every person, is indispensable. Now that mission will undoubtedly come with obstacles. But the question is not IF you can succeed, but HOW. G-d gives you the tools, the support, and the strength to be successful, so you can venture forth with confidence.
Right now it frankly feels like the world is falling apart. Every day can be a challenge to keep your head up amidst the rampant antisemitism and hateful chaos we read in every news headline. But against all odds, the Jewish people are still trying to figure out the best way to enter the land of Israel––literally! People are still making Aliyah or signing up to help defend or rebuild our homeland.
So let this be your reminder. Whatever giants you are facing day to day. The question is not should you proceed. It is not will you be successful? You already have everything you need to complete your divine mission. The only question is not IF, but HOW.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
Nancy Spiwak wrote...
blessings!!