Shabbat Shlach Lecha

Sabbath, June 8, 2007

Kol hahatchalot kashot — all beginnings are difficult. In Parashat Shlach Lecha, Moses empowers the twelve Israelite tribal leaders to begin planning the conquest of the Promised Land and the establishment of Canaan as their homeland. Moses sends these men to Canaan on a fact-finding and military intelligence-gathering mission lasting forty days. The spies are directed to scout the Promised Land and publicly report back to the nation. After roll call Moses says to them:

"And you shall see the land- what it is. Are the people who live there strong or weak, few or many? Is the Land good or bad? Are the towns open or fortified? Is the soil rich or poor? Are there trees? [ If so, ] return with samples of the fruit...."

These senator spies leave from the wilderness and make a grand tour of the Land. They return to the desert camp with both fruit and sound bites. Ten of twelve leaders report:

"We cannot attack that people for it is stronger that we... [the] Land we visited is one that devours its inhabitants. All the people who we saw there are giants... we looked like grasshoppers to ourselves and that is how they saw us."

The majority report's fear-filled hyperbole effectively shoots down public confidence in the conquest and settlement of Canaan. Only two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, dissent. Caleb raises a lone voice in an attempt to rally the people back. Caleb declares: "Let us indeed go up, and we shall gain possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it."

Fueling the self-hatred of the spies, all former slaves, was Pharaoh's anti-Israelite propaganda and the Egyptians "were repulsed at the sight of the Children of Israel."

For the sin of diba, slander, God punishes the spies and their generation with forty more years of wandering and death in the wilderness. Shlach Lecha warns us that we must deal with our personal and national traumas because they will continue to harm us and others. We have to find ways to unlearn fear and relearn compassion if we are to move on from the past. Maybe God ordains the forty years in the wilderness as a way to begin that healing.

Let's imagine that in the aftermath of this week's parasha, Miriam led the Twelve Spies and Moses into the Tent of Meeting for a mandatory Heart Circle. Miriam presented the Talking Stick, a staff carved with almond blossoms that belonged to Aaron, to the first speaker.

Shammua Ben-Zaccur: I regret that due to the majority's rejection of the Promised Land we will live in the desert for the foreseeable future. But here we can focus on the centrality of Israel, solidify Jewish identity, become better lobbyists, and write donkey carts of Jewish law and liturgy.

Shaphat Ben-Hori: I've lost everything! Now I will never own land that I can pass down to my children. I rejected a permanent homeland that might offer safe borders, dignity, and an annual shot at the Eurovision song contest!

Hoshea Ben-Nun: I feel at peace. We must be patient. It is also holy work to grow and change slowly. We must learn how to desire earth and all her fruits again. Our children will seek the challenges of Israel soon enough.

Ammiel ben Gemalli: I feel relieved that we have slowed down the process toward conquest. We must study the moral issues involved in our returning to the land of our ancestors. Does our slavery and persecution justify everything we might want to do? I feel we better make the best of our time in the penalty box, boys and girls. One day we might be sovereigns.

Nahbi Ben-Vophsi: Many think we were afraid of the nations and we avoided a fight with them. No, we are afraid of ourselves. All our ancestors ever did in the Land was fight over blessing and possession. In Canaan we will bitterly compete with each other over who will corner the wheat or wine. We have traded our battles for a bit of wilderness peace.

Geuel Ben-Machi: I feel so confused, angry, and afraid. I want to yell at you, Moses, and at You God. If you knew we weren't ready, why did you let us go on the mission?

No sooner had Moses set down the Talking Stick that a pitiful weeping could be heard coming from behind the curtain of the Holy of Holies. "Woe, My People, why did I abandon you?" Then God stopped weeping and began to chuckle.