Parshat Shalach
This parasha deals mainly with the spies sent by Moses to see how good is the land of Israel and if there are any considerations needs to be taken before entering the land.
The 12 spies represent each of the tribes. They were all brave men sent to the hard job due to their qualities. They were expected to see if the land is good; if there are any other people sitting in it; if there are water sources and so on. The 12 were paired so left in 6 groups and went to the north and south, west and east of the land of Israel. They covered everywhere and saw all one can see.
After a while they came back, and was standing in front of the people of Israel. Moses then asked them to tell the people of Israel about the land they are about to enter to. Despite what Moses thought the response will be, the spies, well 10 of them, told the Israelites a bunch of lies. They said the place was horrible and not a land where Israel should live in. they said there are many giants living in the land, and that there is no food, shelter or water.
Only 2, Kalev and Yehoshusa (Joshua) told the truth. They said there is milk and honey in the land, but also problems such as the fact others are living in cities or different areas. Their conclusion was it is the right place to live in.
When one reads this it creates a lot of questions:
- Was it really the best move to do, to go into the land of Israel?
- How come 10 out of 12 are perceived as liars?
- If this was nothing but lies, what were the motives behind it?
And of course many more questions.
It is important to understand the views of different people about Israel: many Israelis, after the 2nd Lebanon war mainly, feel the country is not the place we want to live in any more. Many will only tell who ever is listnenig, their criticisms around current affais:
- How Israel didn’t win the war
- How in Israel the defence minister is useless
- How in Israel the prime-minister is thought by a committee that invitigated the war, as a person that did not take the right decisions last summer
- How in Israel the corruption level is so high, and ministers as well as other personal are marching to police investigation week in week out.
And so on.
Another very surprising voice is the one of Avraham Burg, who was the chairmen of the Jewish agency in the past. He said that in his eyes there is not really a place to a Jewish state. In his words-
“to define the State of Israel as a Jewish state is the key to its end. A Jewish state is explosive. It's dynamite” (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/868215.html ) . read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,10551,1042071,00.html;
Going back to the spies of Moses it seems like people are driven from a very different back ground. But there needs to be a balance for every criticism. One should remember Israel has many more things to offer: not only a democratic state (with problems) but a society were many more today are willing to give out a lot in order to bring back the justice, the social values the lights unto the nations we want to be. Despite all difficulties, israelies are living our dream: a place where one can live and make hagshama of all they strive for, be it this way or another.
Burg is in a bad mood and we can understand why. but it is always the easy way out just to give-up. If we want to see a better society and a brighter future, our job is to say the truth: yes there are problems. Yes, it might not be easy. But on the end of the day, we can make it better for the sake of all of us.
Shabbat shalom!
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