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Undercover Disciple: Torah Portion of Shelach
The bond between Moses and his disciple Caleb was not always known to all—even to Caleb himself.
Rabbi Mendel Kaplan is the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario, serving one of Canada’s most dynamic Jewish communities. He also serves as Chaplain of the York Regional Police Service. He is an active member of Toronto’s Vaad HaRabbanim (Council of Orthodox Rabbis), and a voting member of the COR Kashruth Council of Canada’s executive rabbinical board. Rabbi Kaplan is featured regularly on many local television and radio shows. He is a sought after speaker, with hundreds of lectures on Chabad.org. He and his wife, Faygie, are blessed with eight children. Artistically endowed, the rabbi enjoys drawing, sketching and creating charcoal portraits.
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More in this section
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2:05Two Minute Rabbi: Shelach
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1:16:47The Journey of the Spies
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21:15Kneading G-d in Creation
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53:58Parsha Gems: Shelach
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40:00Moses’ Protest
- View All »
Join the Discussion
Anonymous
November 12, 2012
BH Dear Rabbi Kaplan, Thank you for such a powerful shiur! Reply
Anonymous
June 8, 2010
Follow the leader Rabbi Kaplan, I will follow the leader. I don't know everything and I still love to be a student everyday. I have not lost the spark that lights our purpose. Just please don't ask me to break the 7 Noahide Laws and everything is great. Reply
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Pepperell, MA
June 6, 2010
Calev and Miriam
I have an answer to my own question, quoting here:
Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky, in his work Emes L'Yaakov, also supports this view of the Kli Yakar [that G-d would have "preferred" that Moshe send women rather than "anashim" - men]. When the Torah mentions that Moshe changed Yehoshua's name from "Hoshea" to "Yehoshua," Rashi explains that the addition was to protect him from the spies. Rav Yaakov then asks why wasn't Kaleiv's name changed. After all, he should need divine protection as well. Rav Yaakov then responds by saying that Kaleiv had a righteous wife (Miriam) who would be a source of protection for him. In contrast, the bachelor Yehoshua (who had not yet met his future wife Rachav) would be more vulnerable to their negative influences.
Reply
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Pepperell, MA
June 2, 2010
Calev and Miriam
Rabbi Kaplan,
First, thank you so much for all your wonderful classes. In light of Rashi's (first) question, why does the story of the spies follow the story of Miriam, isn't it worth inspecting the connection between Calev and Miriam, i.e., that they were married to each other? Is there any commentary on this along the lines of your lecture?
Thank you.
Reply
Anonymous
June 1, 2010
Torah Portion of Shelach Rabbi Gordon and his online classes are talking about this very subject. Great talk as usual. Truly G-d blesses all of us with such Torah knowledge, great job Rabbi Kaplan. Reply
Eric&Michelle
Thornhill
June 1, 2010
Great lecture! Thanks Rabbi - we enjoyed it! Sorry we couldnt make it in person this week Reply
Thank you for the joy you brought me with this shiur This shiur is going to be a classic. This shiur was presented so powerfully and with a portion of humour that underlines the teaching.
"You wanna keep Shabbos? Alright! Shabbos lecha.!" This is so funny. Am I the only one cracking up over this?
The way this shiur was presented is the most wonderful way to learn in my opinion.