In Parasha Shelach Lecha, the spies are sent to be given to the Children of Israel. It is important to recognize that a spy is sent for each of the 12 tribes of Israel, among which there are even princes. However, only two bring back a realistic report that is not demoralizing: Khaleb from the tribe of Judah and Hoshea bin Nun from the tribe of Ephraim.
I identify with the latter, as I am not both Levi and Jew, thus doubly fruitful, as the name Ephraim suggests. It is also important that Hoshea bin Nun had traveled the long way from Egypt to prepare everything. This is about Canaan, the land that Hashem promises his people. While everyone else, except Caleb and Hoshea, encourages the people to conquer the land and take possession of it for themselves, it is the rest who consider this impossible and report this to the community, the entire body of the Children of Israel, who are now about to enter the „Promised Land.“ They listen to the messengers of doubt from their own ranks and begin to grumble and wish to return to Egypt. What can we learn from this? First, that the Children of Israel are following the wrong people, that it was two princes who fulfilled G-d’s command and only report what G-d expects, without any doubt and without their own emotional admixtures regarding fears that are transmitted to the people.
I speak of the land in two ways. On the one hand, it’s about conquering one’s own approach to the Torah and all 613 mitzvot, a ‚land of deep spirituality and fear of God,‘ a ‚land flowing with milk and honey,‘ and also the land of Eretz Yisrael itself, as a home for all tribes, all of which are, of course, Jews.
Shavua Tov!
Words and Passion 