Chukat

July 12, 2019
9 Tamuz 5779

Parachat Chukat
Numbers 19:1 -- 22:1

Dear Friends,

For July 4, we recall the aspirational document that founded the United States — the Declaration of Independence.

Aspiring to something is a very important quality. It demands that fear and negativity be set aside and that steps are taken to propel one forward. In last week’s Torah portion, Sh’lach (Numbers 13:1 - 15:41), we see elements of both. Sh’lach means, “send.” Who was being sent and why? Representatives of the twelve tribes were being sent to scout out the land that had been promised to them.

What these scouts saw depended in large measure on whether they were fearful or aspirational, whether they had faith in themselves and the Divine or not. Ten of the spies came into the land and all they could see were the obstacles that needed to be overcome. As the spies saw it, there was no way the Israelites could defeat the local inhabitants because they were like giants. Fear froze the ten spies; past success under the protection of the Divine did nothing or little to assuage their fears. And possibly more than that, all of those years as slaves eroded their sense of self and belief in themselves.

Then there were Caleb and Joshua, two men of vision, who saw the potential of the land. It was, after all, a land of “milk and honey,” meaning that it was fertile and a good place to raise animals as well. They had the courage to aspire. They saw the possibilities and they put fear aside. We understand Joshua having faith — he was Moses’ right hand man, the man who waited for him at the foot of Mount Sinai.

But Caleb seems to come out of nowhere; we know nothing about him prior to this moment. He sees what no one else does without having proximity to the center of power, as Joshua does. He has courage, faith, and vision. He is truly an exemplar for all of us.

Ultimately, the ten spies’ fears led to 38 more years in the wilderness, added to the 2 they had already spent. Whether we look to those that founded this country, imperfect though they most certainly were, or to Caleb and Joshua, it takes vision and courage to keep moving forward and a modicum of faith, not only in the Divine, but also in one another.

What does it take to stand up in the face of fear and uncertainty? We are at just such a juncture in our country and our world. Certainly, we need to do this together. Caleb and Joshua had each other to reinforce their faith and vision. We too, have one another to give each other the courage to go forward.

I am ending this week’s d'var with a link to share the story of what people are doing to help one another at this difficult time, step-by-step, person-to-person.

May you have a summer that refreshes your spirit.

Click HERE to read the article in full.

B'Shalom,

Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn