Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

In this week's Parsha of Shlach, we read the famous narrative of the twelve tribal chieftains who are sent to investigate the promised land. In later Scripture, they are called "spies," but not in the original episode. As many of us know, ten come back with an editorialized account of what they have seen. They fill their report with falsehoods and personal opinions, inciting a panic among the people. Only Joshua and Caleb return with a factual, faithful, and positive report. Ultimately, after the entire nation is punished to wander in the desert for a total of forty years, only Joshua and Caleb will enter the promised land from the generation that had been liberated from Egypt.

The reporting of the ten leaders reminds us of the false and editorialized reporting taking place in our day regarding Israel and the Jewish people. It is this kind of propaganda which has led to outbreaks of Anti-Semitic verbal and physical violence around the world. In the Biblical incident, the root cause came from within our people. Nowadays, all Jews regardless of belief and practice, are victimized by external forces.

A generation after the Torah's account, Joshua leads the Children of Israel into the promised land. In this week's Haftarah, he sends two representatives to investigate the city of Jericho. This time around, belief and optimism prevail. A more mature nation,  now settled in Israel forty plus years after the Exodus from Egypt, is confident in its faith and purpose. The Haftarah's narrative is a model lesson for us.

As Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav wrote, "The entire world is a narrow bridge, but the important thing is not to be afraid."

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison