Parsha Talk Shlah Lekha 5784 2024

Kol Ramah

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Sh’lakh, sometimes referred to as Sh’lakh L’kha [Numbers 13-15], is taken up mostly with the story of the Spies [Numbers 13-14], whose account to Moses and the people led to the adults of the generation of the Exodus dying in the wilderness. The only two adults who left Egypt and entered the land of Canaan are Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who saw the land for themselves and were prepared to conquer it. Even Moses and Aaron, both of whom survive into the fortieth year of wandering, die just short of entrance into the land. Each time one reads the story one finds it perplexing. What exactly did the spies do wrong? Was it really such a catastrophic sin? worse even than the Golden Calf? We spent our entire time discussing this enigmatic story, and still felt as if we had barely penetrated its surface. We are ever mindful of the hostages and their families, and the men and women who defend Israel as soldiers in the Israel Defense Force. May the hostages be speedily returned to their homes; may the soldiers be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.