The issue is trusting G-d and remembering G-d's powers seen earlier at the Reed Sea as well as the Manna and the Quails we were fed with as well as the plagues brought against the Egyptians...
The result of the spie story in the Torah is that the generation of freed Israelite slaves will wander 40 years in the dessert until they all die and none enter the land.
We might also discuss the hint I see that Moses will not go into the Land.... as the Torah says only Joshuah and Caleb of this generation will go into the land... It is later when Moses strikes the rock for water and G-d declares that as the reason he will not go in... " NUYMBERS
| 20:12 | God said to Moses and Aaron, 'You did not have enough faith in Me to sanctify Me in the presence of the Israelites! Therefore, you shall not bring this assembly to the land that I have given you.' |
BUT - it seem rather clear HERE G-d already knows, 40 years earlier, Moses will not go in.
However - we here at CBH do not read the Torah part about spies this year since we are on the Triennial cycle and while we do read the haftorah story about spies ... I want to simply look at points brought up in the third third of the Torah parsha we did read.
Several mitzvahs are given to us When We are in The Land - The offering of Challah is one. Other sacrifices are noted and the Torah says here -- The will be one law for all in the land ... you and the stranger.... Or Prosylite...
AND the end of this parsha is the third paragraph of the Shema which we say every day. Here at CBH we chant the last part but in the entirety says:
The L-rd spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to attach a thread of blue on the fringe of each corner. They shall be to you as tzizit, and you shall look upon them and remember all the commandments of the L-rd and fulfill them, and you will not follow after your heart and after your eyes by which you go astray - so that you may remember and fulfill all My commandments and be holy to your G‑d. I am the L-rd your G‑d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G‑d; I, the L-rd, am your G‑d. True.
SO --- these are things are found and read as I got ready to lead services today. I offer you the points I have noted... but I don't offer you actionable conclusions. Who am I to do that?
I will say the ideas of the stranger - or prosyletite, in our midst being treated fairly and justly - - as we ourselves treat ourselves seems right and is something in our nations we see less and less as strangers are feared, I will say that what our eyes see and that to which we are attracted to in any moment may not be good and wholesome in the long run. I will say that taking and giving challah I find to be a privilege and an obligation and a joy.
No comments:
Post a Comment