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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
We read in Parshas Shelach about the episode of the meraglim, the scouts exploring Eretz Yisroel. A most difficult chapter in our nation’s history to comprehend.
From the moment the Jewish nation left Egypt, their life was one of miracles. The splitting of the sea, the heavenly clouds that guided and guarded them by day, and the fires that protected and warmed them, by night. Their clothes never wore out, and they were blessed with a daily portion of manna. They merited to stand at Mount Sinai, hear the voice of HaShem, and receive His precious Torah.
Yet, when it came time to enter Eretz Yisroel, they hesitated, wanting to see what lay ahead of them. As Moshe recounts, the people said “Let us send men before us, that they may search the Land.” (Devarim 1:22) Rashi comments, that the nation approached Moshe “b’irbuvia, with confusion, in a disorderly manner”. The young pushing the elders, the elders pushing the leaders.
How do we understand the actions of a people who lived with HaShem’s kindness every single day, yet displayed doubts and suspicions upon receiving the G-d given gift of the Holy Land, saying, wait a minute, we first have to check it out?
When Moshe questioned HaShem as how to respond, HaShem told him that He is giving Bnei Yisroel the most beautiful land. The Land promised to their forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. While HaShem did not command Moshe to send explorers, He said if you feel the need to do so, “Shelach lecha, Send for yourself”. Rashi teaches, “l’datcha, for your understanding, for your knowledge.” (Bamidbar 13:2)
Moshe felt that if he didn’t acquiesce, it would appear as if he had something to hide. As if he was not providing “full disclosure” about this unknown land. He was hoping that by going along with their request, Bnei Yisroel would realize that all is good, and there will be no need to search the land. That their emunah and bitachon, their faith and trust in HaShem would be sufficient.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Moshe was compelled to send “Kol nasi bahem, every prince amongst them”. A representative of each tribe. “Kulam anashim, each one a man of great importance.”
After forty days of exploration, the meraglim returned. They brought back big, beautiful fruits. They spoke of an “Eretz zavat chalav u’dvash, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
And then they said a little word that spoke volumes. “Efes – BUT”. Efes also means “zero”, nothing. My mother a”h would teach that when one says “but”, it means that it’s not happening. Forget about it. Zero. That one little word negates everything positive that may have been said just seconds earlier – no matter the subject, no matter the issue. As in “I’d love to invite you – but…” means there is no invite. “I’d love to help you – but…” means there is no help coming. “He’s a great guy, or she sounds like a wonderful girl – but…” means the shidduch isn’t happening.
With their words, the miraglim put a damper on the nation’s spirit. Their report became one of negativity. They painted a picture of despair. “Eretz ocheles yoshvehah, a land that devours its inhabitants”, alluding to the large number of funerals they witnessed while scouting out the land. They failed to realize that even that was a gift from HaShem. That HaShem caused the locals to be so pre-occupied with tending to their deceased, that they wouldn’t even notice the miraglim, strangers in their land. What was a miraculous gift from HaShem was viewed as problematic.
The Torah tells us that from the group of twelve, only two, Yehoshua and Calev, stood strong and spoke positively about Eretz Yisroel. Unlike their peers, they were able to see the good, and appreciate the holiness of the land. Sadly, their voices were drowned out by the larger boisterous contingent.
The miraglim, who were so used to living a miracle-filled life in the desert, were afraid that once the nation entered Eretz Yisroel, they would be forced to live a “natural” life. They were apprehensive. Will HaShem continue to be with them? They erred by failing to realize that no matter where or when, HaShem would always be with them. The sea doesn’t have to split, and manna doesn’t have to fall from Heaven for HaShem to be at their side. As we say in the Amidah, “V’al nisecha she’bchol yom imanu, v’al nif’le’osecha v’tovosecha she’bchol eis, for your miracles that are with us every day, and for your wonders and goodness at all times.” One needs only to open his eyes to see them.
The root of the word miraglim is regel, foot. For the miraglim traveled to Eretz Yisroel by foot. Recently, I read about Shlomo Mula, an Ethiopian Jew, who at age sixteen left his family, his home, his country, to make it to Israel by foot.
Mula wrote about growing up listening to his parents and town elders speak of the beauty of Yerushalayim, a magical city. It was the beginning of a burning desire within him to somehow, some way get to Eretz Yisroel. He shared his dream with his friend, who came up with a plan – to walk from Ethiopia, through Sudan, to Egypt, and reach Be’er Sheva. A crazy dream, but one that became a reality.
Eventually, seventeen boys, all Ethiopian teenagers, joined together to make the trip. Where they summoned the courage from, I don’t know. They traveled over 500 miles by foot in a week, crossing hot desert sands, and a dangerous jungle laden with lions, tigers and poisonous snakes. Upon reaching Sudan, they were arrested and imprisoned for three months, where they were brutally tortured. Subsequently, they were transferred to a Sudanese refugee camp, where Shlomo and his group were approached by a stranger who said “I know you, come with me”.
Shlomo thought this was the beginning of their end. They were taken by truck on a circuitous route through the desert, eventually reaching an airplane – the first time Shlomo had ever seen one in his life. He innocently asked if it was a “giant bird”. Only after being transferred from the truck to the plane did they find out that the person who picked them up from the refugee camp was a Mossad agent who arranged for their escape to Israel. The Israeli soldiers on the plane began singing Hevenu Sholom Aleichem. Thus began their new life. In fact, Shlomo later became a member of Knesset.
What a powerful lesson. Mula and his friends grew up hearing about the beauty and holiness of Eretz Yisroel and risked their lives to fulfill their dream. How fortunate we are to live in a time where we could easily get on a plane and in a few hours arrive on admas kodesh, a Holy Land. If only the miraglim would have seen HaShem’s miracles, so much pain and anguish could have been avoided, not just then, but for thousands of years.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
