A person coming to the Torah for the first time may be overwhelmed by the intricacies of the Written and Oral Law. The Ramak explains that the Land of Israel is called "Canaan" from the Hebrew word for "subdue", "nichna", because the first step towards entering the world of the Torah is to subdue one's animal soul to the demands of G-d. This is the secret of "entering the land".
On this Torah reading, the Ari teaches about the soul
root of Caleb, who, along with Joshua, was one of the only two messengers sent
to spy out the Land of Israel who remained faithful to the mission. Caleb was a
reincarnation of the soul of Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, as well as a
manifestation of the name Havayah when spelled out to equal 52, the
numerical value of his name. The Ari uses this as a launch pad for a treatise on
sexual relations and the feminine principle, referred to as "Nukva".
Both the commandment of tzitzit and that of challah are included in this parasha and both are described as "reishit"(i.e. heads). The first word of the Torah, "Bereishit", alludes to the world having been created on account of that gift of "challah", the piece of dough donated to the kohen; blessing devolves upon the world due to the fulfillment of this commandment.
Tzitzit are made up of 32 strings, symbolizing the 32 "paths" which G‑d employed in bringing this universe into being; the Targum Yerushalmi translates the word "Bereishit" as "with wisdom".
The task that Moses gave to the spies was to pay particular attention to the Land's nature, if it was a holy land suitable for supporting a nation dedicated to Torah study and spiritual growth? After all, G-d had promised them a land flowing with milk and honey; the Land lacked no physical resources for sustaining its people.
Their returning with a giant cluster of grapes and enormous figs showed that they only saw the physical nature of the Land and that everything about the Land was abnormal. If only they would have simply appreciated G-d for His abundant goodness, they would have brought a blessing to the nation and lead them quickly into the Land of Israel.
Moses had commanded the spies to first check the details necessary to wage the war, and only afterwards to ascertain the extent of the reward, the fertility of the land. The spies began their report by saying, "The land flows with milk and honey ". Caleb immediately silenced them as he realized that their focus was upon the reward.
Both Joshua and Caleb equally declared that the Israelites could conquer the Land. Joshua received inspiration from Moses, who had prayed for him before he left for Canaan. Caleb, however, sought inspiration on his own by praying at the graves of the Patriarchs in Hebron.
Caleb's faith had a stronger impact: he was able to silence all the people, even the spies themselves. In addition to presenting logical arguments, Caleb said that they could accomplish even the logically impossible: "Even if our destination were the heavens and Moses would tell us to make ladders and ascend, we would succeed in all that he instructs". (Sota 35a; cited by Rashi)
The spies' mission was to scout out the Land and take fruits of Canaan (the future Land of Israel), making them Jewish fruits. This process would break the impurity of Canaan, preparing it for the Jewish conquest.
When the members of each tribe would hear how the spies traveled through Canaan gathering the required fruit, even at the darkest time when Canaan was not yet under Jewish rule, everyone would realize how easy it would be for them to successfully conquer the Land.
Our task is to transform the world into a dwelling place for G-d.
Shabbat Shalom.
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
Comment
