View over the Galilee from Zfat (Safed)
Photo: Miriam Woelke
B"H
This week's Torah Parasha SHLACH LECHA is telling us about the fatal incident with the spies (Hebrew: Meraglim). G - d didn't command Moshe to send out the spies but various Jews demanded it and finally Moshe gave in. Didn't the Jews trust in G - d, as He had explicitly promised them way before that He will take them to a land where there is milk and honey floating. A GOOD (TOV) land. How could there be a doubt that G - d wouldn't fulfill His promise ?
People are people and some of the Jews in the desert wanted a proof. Some commentators state that the Jews were afraid of settling in Israel (then Eretz Canaan) because they had a convenient life in the desert. G - d took care of everything they needed and was protecting them from all kinds of enemies. Once moving into the Promised Land, the Jews were supposed to settle the land. Each tribe in a different territory. Furthermore, they were supposed to work the land and make a living. Why give up the convenient desert life in order to settle a land they didn't even know. What about enemies and all kinds of dangers waiting for them ? Moving into the unknown ?
G - d let Moshe know that if he is sending out the spies, this will be his own responsibility. G - d already knew the result but gave the Jews in the desert their FREE WILL and thus, a choice. The spies went out to spy out the land. They went everywhere. From the south up to the Galilee and Golan Heights. Chazal say that they returned on Tisha be'Av (9th of the Jewish month of Av), and their reports were anything but positive. Actually the spies didn't tell lies but what they did was taking all the facts and turning them into something negative. Everything they said was just negative and the people became afraid and started complaining. Then G - d said: "You are complaining about nothing. I will show you desasters and give you a real reason to complain about !" Since then, the Jews have been suffering from that promise. We will do so until Meshiach comes because then, Tisha be'Av is turning from a day of mourning (the two Temples were destroyed on that day) and fasting into a day of joy.
The Maharal of Prague writes in his Torah commentary GUR ARYEH that the Jews were not ready to enter the land at that time. I found a very disturbing commentary written by the chassidic Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshis'cha (1767 – 1827), stating that the Jews then didn't deserve to enter the land. They didn't deserve it ? Why ?
As his source, Rabbi Simcha Bunim, is quoting the commentary BEIT YAAKOV (Parashat Shlach Lecha). Unfortunately I was only able to get hold of the BEIT YAAKOV / Parashat Bereshit and not of Sefer Bamidbar. Maybe one of the readers is able to contribute the Beit Yaakov's commentary on this matter. Otherwise I take the Maharal's commentary where he says that the Jews then weren't ready spiritually. They were so used to seeing miracles every day that they simply couldn't imagine a worldly life anymore. He also said that those Jews were too far away from G - d and thus, G - d wanted a new generation to enter the land. As a matter of fact, most Jews of the Exodus generation died in the desert and a new generation grew up.
The question arises whether we Jews are so much different from this particular generation in the desert demanding the spies to be sent out ?
There are more than enough Diaspora Jews who rather stay in Galut due to their convenient lifestyle. Why move to Israel and suffer from all kinds of difficulties when we have a great income in Toronto, London, Paris, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles or Miami ?
Some time ago I carried out a survey on one of my German blogs asking German Jews why they don't make Aliyah to Israel. The majority answered that they are too afraid not to find a job and an apartment. In other words they were too afraid of not being able to make a living.
I can understand that kind of argumentation, as it is anything but easy to live in Israel. Unless you win the lottery or come with plenty of money. Learning a new language, getting used to a Middle East culture and being yelled at by impatient Israelis. On the other hand, in Israel you usually don't suffer from anti - Semitism and you are able to just be Jewish without justifying yourself. There are actually many positive things about Israel but one needs to open his eyes in order to see them. Everyone making an effort will find his place in society and immigration and being new has never been easy. Despite all the negative things in Israel, when you walk around with an open mind you will be able to recognize the beauty of the land and its people. We don't have an easy life but there are plenty of moments when you realize that Israel is a land where milk and honey float. Sometimes its hard to see but if you want to give up, you may regret your decision moving back to your former countries.
Maybe the Jews in America, Canada, South Africa or Australia should, once in a while, ask themselves what they really want from life. What are their preferences and where do they see their spiritual life ?
Shabbat Shalom - Gut Schabbes to all of you !
