This Shabbat morning: Bless the Kids for children aged 0 - 10.  Be in Shul by 10.15 to receive Rabbi's blessing and a special treat .. and get to make your own edible tzitzit!

When Tourists 
Become Spies

The episode of the spies, which we read in this week’s Torah portion, is one of the most enigmatic in the Torah.

On the one hand we are assured that the spies were men of stature, fit for the task that lay ahead. After all, it was Moshe who sent them on their mission.

On the other, they dashed the hopes and dreams of their entire generation.

What went wrong?

In one of his insightful talks, the Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that, throughout the parasha, those we refer to as “spies” (in Hebrew “meraglim”) were not once referred to as such. The word used to describe their mission is “vayaturu”, “latur”, etc. – which comes from the root meaning “to see” – the same as the Modern Hebrew word for tourist – “Tayar”.

Moses’ intention in sending them on their mission was not to ascertain the viability of conquest. After all G-d Himself had already assured them of this. He had told them from the outset that His purpose in taking them from Egypt was to bring them to the Promised Land. Rather Moses’ intention was twofold: (a) to confirm for the people (Jews are always skeptical!) the outstanding productivity of the Land and (b) so that he, as Commander in Chief, could plan its conquest. All they had to do was to enter it with all the interest and enthusiasm of tourists going on a grand tour and bring him back a the travelogue that he had requested.

They were good men and that is why they were chosen. But, as so often happens when people don the uniform, they began taking themselves all too seriously. Instead of “tourists” they became “spies”. Spies don’t only take beautiful photos of people and scenery. They use disguises, speak in code, and write with invisible ink. They rely very heavily on their own ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Now in principle there should be nothing wrong with this. After all, they believed that through this form of activity they would better fulfill their mission of reporting to Moses and thereby help him plan his strategy of conquest.

But in spite of their best intentions, this was not what they were asked to do. From Moses' perspective a “tourist” view was all that was needed. The rest should be left to him.

Once they deviated from their original mission, arrogating to themselves far greater responsibility than was given, it was only a matter of time before they became self-appointed experts on the conquest itself. Soon they were advising against it in spite of their experience with G-d’s miraculous intervention in Egypt and His promise to do the same for them in the Promised Land.

Of the two “spies” who fulfilled their mission in the manner expected of them was Joshua, who was later to become Moses’ successor. In contrast to the other spies, what does the Torah describe as Joshua’s greatest quality? “He never moved from (Moses’) tent”. Certainly Joshua was a great strategist himself – it was he after all who actually conquered the Land of Israel. But during Moses’ lifetime he was not heard from. His entire focus was to be at his master’s side, ready to do his bidding. A man with such self-effacement was the one deemed to be Moses’ heir.

And herein lies a very powerful lesson for each of us. What makes us unique as human beings is our intelligence. But when given a specific mission by G-d, it is not for us to decide on its viability, or even to decide on a “better” method of implementation. There have throughout our history been many reformers with ideas “modern” for their time, and certainly many were good people who had the best of intentions. In the end however all deviations from G-d’s plans lead to failure – as we say in our daily prayers: “Many are the thoughts of Man, but it is G-d’s idea that will prevail”.

We must use our ingenuity to fulfill G-d’s mission in the manner that we have been instructed, and without deviation.

Intelligence is our greatest gift. But we must choose to use it wisely, and not become as they say in Yiddish, an “iber-chochom” – someone who is too smart for their own good.

Ultimately, as Joshua, we will see the reward of our labour.

​On behalf of Rebbetzen Henya and all of us at South Head best wishes for a Good Shabbos.

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM

PS - Annual General Meeting - reminder that this Motzei Shabbat the Shul's AGM takes place at 7.30pm.

JLI
Spirit of Compromise

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Students learned this week that one must balance chesed (kindness) and gevurah (discipline) in their lives.  
They also learned that the more pure something is the more desirable it is to the forces of impurity; the more righteous one is, the greater one's Yetzer Hara (evil inclination).

 

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Brookie Reports

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Bless the Kids is this Shabbat morning and we can't wait! Be in shul no later than 10.15 and receive a blessing and special treat from the Rabbi. And we will make our own very special edible tzitzit!!

Camp Shalom registrations are rapidly filling so be quick and get on board for the best day camp in town. (see flier following) or click here for full info and to register online.

Looking forward to seeing you in Shule!

​Brookie and the Youth Crew

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Parasha Sheet
Shelach

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The Parasha in a nutshell:

* Moshe tells the Jewish people that they are about to enter the land of Israel. The Jewish people become quite anxious and ask Moshe to send spies ahead of the to inspect the land.

* Ten out of twelve spies return to the Jewish people with a bad report about the holy land.

* Hashem teaches Moshe about the special Mitzvah of separating Challah.

* Hashem teaches Moshe about the important Mitzvah of wearing Tzitzit. 

To learn about the Parasha in more detail, download our Parasha sheet! 

Please share our Parasha sheet around your Shabbat table and let your family and friends explore the Parasha of the week together with you. 

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evolved through our history.

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Communal Events

Embody

and to celebrate the "brit" (covenant) between God and the Jewish people as originally revealed in the