Shabbat Shalom - Parshat Shelach
Blessing of the New Month of Tammuz - Shabbos June 12
Parshat Shlach begins with Moshe Rabbeinu preparing the Jewish people for their entrance into the Promised Land, the Land of Israel. God’s original plan was that the exodus from Egypt be completed in three stages. First, the Egyptians would be drowned in the Red Sea. Then the people would continue to Mt. Sinai where they would receive the Torah. Finally they would enter the Land of Israel, with Moshe Rabbeinu leading the way and immediately make their way to Mt. Moriah where they would have constructed the Temple.
But, as we know, this was not what actually happened. After an entire year at Mt. Sinai, the people were now finally on the eve of entering the Land of Israel. Without the Land of Israel, the Torah cannot become a way of life and the Jewish people would not be able to spread its light to the entire world. As part of the preparations, the Torah relates that Moshe Rabbeinu sent 12 spies to survey the Land of Israel. We all know that this mission too failed miserably.
However, through a careful reading of the text, Chassidic teachings reveal that though the mission contained an element of reconnaissance, its main goal was not espionage in the classic sense.
Moshe sent the 12 men, all leaders of their tribes, in order to prepare the Land of Israel for the coming of the Jewish people. At that time the Land of Israel was still the Land of Canaan, inhabited by 7 Canaanite nations, with some of the most abominable practices and traditions on earth, both religiously and morally. Since the time of Noah, the land had been filled with these abominations and the spies were entrusted with the mission of preparing it as a home for the holiness of the Jewish people and the Torah. The image reflecting this preparation is that of a farmer plowing his land in preparation for sowing.
The distinction between spying and surveying is quite clear and again seems to stress that Moshe Rabbeinu’s was not focusing on collecting intelligence, as stated above. Still, when reading the sages explanation of the events, Moshe’s emissaries are referred to as spies, a point that is also evident throughout Rashi’s commentary on the story.
The Ba'al Shem Tov teaches that when a Jew finds himself walking in a particular place, it is not by chance. Divine Providence has brought him there, so that he can reveal Divinity there. All Jews are emissaries of the Almighty and thus by their mere presence they illuminate their surroundings with the Divine Presence. The Divine emanating from a Jewish soul acts like a magnet. It awakens any sparks of holiness present in its surroundings and draws them closer. Indeed, this is part of the mission a Jewish soul is entrusted with. Sometimes a Jew is born just to walk in a place where no other Jew has previously walked. When a Jew is consciously connected to God, by reciting a blessing or speaking words of Torah, he or she elevates all the sparks that have fallen there. Thus, the twelve spies, representing all twelve Tribes of Israel, circled all the borders of the Land of Israel, entrusted with the mission of awakening all the Divine sparks in the land—sparks of holiness that had been in exile ….
The Land of Israel is full of pearls, both spiritual and physical. The Ba’al Shem Tov spoke of the spiritual riches lying hidden in the Land of Israel, while the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke of the as-yet-unrevealed physical resources and wealth hidden in its depths.
Meditating on the image of the land full of sparks of holiness is an important element in making the transition from line to area consciousness. Both for our individual and collective consciousness, this image facilitates attaining our goal of infusing our surroundings with an atmosphere of Divine consciousness and goodness. As an individual, each of us should focus on the fact that reality is simply waiting for us to radiate Godliness; reality is ready for us to find the spark of holiness it harbors. As a collective, we can be assured that simply speaking the Divine truth will create change. That the world is full of sparks of Divine holiness that like a magnet will be drawn to our conviction and steadfast faith that it is time for the redemption.
When all the sparks are uncovered and all the holiness has been revealed we will experience the ultimate revelation of Divinity, which is likened to the way in which water covers the ocean. Just as there is no real difference between the waters covering the ocean and the waters of the ocean itself so, Divine consciousness will envelop the earth—our normal human consciousness. Everything will be covered with consciousness of God. With this meditation in mind, we can tread on the ground covered with Divine sparks and pearls on our way to area consciousness of God.
For the complete shiur, and other choice thoughts, visit Authentic Jewish Mysticism and Thought.
