Parashat Sh’lach Lekha
Torah: Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24
You've
Come a Long Way! Or Have You?
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Send for yourself men to scout out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Israelites; send one man from each of the ancestral tribes, each man a prince.” Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the word of God; all of them heads of the Israelites. Numbers 13:1-3
Rashi: Why does God say "send for yourself" and not simply "send"? "I am not commanding you - if you want, you may send."
Rabbi Ephraim of Lunshitz (1550 - 1619), author of the noted commentary Klei Yakar, takes Rashi one step further, and questions another word. He asks, why doesn't God want Moses to send "men"?
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Send for yourself men to scout out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Israelites; send one man from each of the ancestral tribes, each man a prince.” Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the word of God; all of them heads of the Israelites. Numbers 13:1-3
Rashi: Why does God say "send for yourself" and not simply "send"? "I am not commanding you - if you want, you may send."
Rabbi Ephraim of Lunshitz (1550 - 1619), author of the noted commentary Klei Yakar, takes Rashi one step further, and questions another word. He asks, why doesn't God want Moses to send "men"?
He recalls the
Rabbinic teaching that the Israelite men despised the Land, and wanted to
return to Egypt. But the Israelite women loved the Land so much, their
demand for an inheritance led to a change in the law as it was understood
at that time (the daughters of Tzeloph'chad - Numbers 27). And because God
knew what was going to happen (the spies would spread fear among the
Israelites), He would have preferred that Moses send women. The women
would have kept better faith with God, and not spread lies about the
Land.
Historically, Jewish women were denied the right to observe many of the mitzvot, such as tallit and tefillin, or to engage in many Jewish rites of passage, like b'nai mitzvah. At the same time, as we see here, there was a strong undercurrent of Rabbinic teaching regarding the spiritual superiority and commitment of Jewish women.
How ironic it is, then, that now that more Jews than ever are free to practice Judaism without fear or hardship, a smaller and smaller percentage of Jews (men and women) are taking advantage of the opportunity. In truth, like the Land of Israel, the landscape of modern Judaism indeed flows with milk and honey. Spy out the land, eat of its fruit, and be satisfied!
Historically, Jewish women were denied the right to observe many of the mitzvot, such as tallit and tefillin, or to engage in many Jewish rites of passage, like b'nai mitzvah. At the same time, as we see here, there was a strong undercurrent of Rabbinic teaching regarding the spiritual superiority and commitment of Jewish women.
How ironic it is, then, that now that more Jews than ever are free to practice Judaism without fear or hardship, a smaller and smaller percentage of Jews (men and women) are taking advantage of the opportunity. In truth, like the Land of Israel, the landscape of modern Judaism indeed flows with milk and honey. Spy out the land, eat of its fruit, and be satisfied!
Shabbat
Shalom.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00
Burbank, CA
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still"
Isaiah 62:1
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Candlelighting: 7:40 pm
Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, June 4, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00
Burbank, CA
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still"
Isaiah 62:1
--------------------------------------------
Candlelighting: 7:40 pm
Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, June 4, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.
I
am conducting Shabbat morning services at 9:30 am at Congregation Mishkon
Tephilo, 206 Main Street, Venice 90291. Torah study follows kiddush lunch.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Eve Beatty, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Jayne Kaplan, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Eve Beatty, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Jayne Kaplan, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.
My
weekly Divrei Torah are also available by e-mail via the Cyber Torah list.
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