בס״ד ׁשְלַח לְָך SHELACH LECHA

In loving memory of Harav Yitzchak Yoel ben Shlomo Halevi

Volume 32 | #39 “...and they showed them the fruits of the Land” 20 June 2020 (Bemidbar 13:26) 28 Sivan 5780

Shabbat ends: 10:28pm Sheffield 11.02pm Edinburgh 11.41pm Birmingham 10.42pm 8.30pm

Please look regularly at the social media and websites of the US, Tribe and your community for ongoing updates relating to Coronavirus as well as educational programming and community support. You do not need to sign into Facebook to access the US Facebook page. The US Coronavirus Helpline is on 020 8343 5696. May God bless us and the whole world.

Shabbat Mevarechim for Tammuz. Rosh Chodesh is on Monday and Tuesday INSIDE:

Artscroll p.798 p.1184 The long jump to conclusions by Piny Hackenbroch Hertz p.623 Haftarah p.635 Soncino p.860 The Victorian Era of the US Haftarah p.875 by Simon Goulden Daf Hashavua Sidra breakdown The long jump ׁשְלַח לְָך Shelach Lecha

4th Sidra in: to conclusions ,by Rabbi Piny Hackenbroch מִ ּבְ דְ ּבַ ר Woodside Park Synagogue Bemidbar There are ‘Good Then the man dressed in the Samaritan’ headlines more expensive clothes also By Numbers: and stories that always struggles, collapses and cries for seem to make you help. Within seconds, a crowd of 119 verses smile, but every once in a while, we people has formed to assist him. 1,540 words come across those that just break The drastic difference in your heart. Such is the case in a willingness to help is eye-opening. 5,820 letters social experiment that examines Both men were clearly in trouble, how much people judge based on but their appearance dictated the appearances. treatment they received. Headlines: A social experiment done by The failure of the spies’ mission YouTube features two differently- that we learn about in this week’s Sending spies to dressed men struggling and sidra after Moshe sent them to collapsing in the same spot on a reconnoitre the Land is particularly Canaan busy street. The man wearing the shocking when we consider their less-expensive clothing is passed standing amongst the Children of by time and time again while he . These men were considered cries for help. Many people look, princes of Israel, men of great but no one feels compelled to come stature, yet their tragic downfall to his aid. came partly as a consequence of

In loving memory of Chaya Rachel bat Moshe Ben-tzion

United Synagogue Daf Hashavua Produced by US Living & Learning together with the Rabbinical Council of Sidra Summary the United Synagogue 1st Aliya () – Bemidbar 13:1-20 Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis God tells Moshe to send spies into Cana’an (later the ), one from each Editorial and Production Team: tribe. The names of the spies are listed. One of them is Hoshea, whose name is Rabbi Daniel Sturgess, Rabbi Laitner, changed by Moshe to Yehoshua (). Moshe instructs the spies to enter the Land Rebbetzen Nechama Davis, from the south, look at its landscape and assess the strength of its inhabitants. Joanna Rose Available also via email US website Point to Consider: Why did Moshe specifically instruct them to enter from the www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue south? (see to 13:17) To sponsor Daf Hashavua please contact Danielle Fox on 020 8343 6261, 2nd Aliya () – 13:21-14:7 or [email protected] The spies enter the Land. They travel to the valley of Eshkol, where they cut a vine If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email with a cluster of grapes which they carry on poles, as well as figs and pomegranates. [email protected] After 40 days in the Land, the spies return to share their report and show the people viewing superficially events they enormous amount of videos and surface. Both looking at tzitzit, such witnessed in their tour of the Land, images available to us today as on a tallit, and remembering to jumping to conclusions. Seeing huge through social media, as well as the judge situations carefully offer a funeral processions throughout the abundance of editing tools, we face great antidote to the superficial Land, they presumed it was a “land similar pressures to jump to hasty judgement of events shown by the that consumed its inhabitants”. Had conclusions, especially in our fast- spies. they thought carefully, they might paced world. The teaches us Moreover, the third paragraph have realised that large crowds make sure we avoid the mistakes of of the Shema is a direct comment suggested this was highly unusual the spies and act more judiciously. on the failings of the spies: "Velo and had been orchestrated by the This may be part of the taturu acharei levechem – do not Almighty to divert attention from psychology that underlies the stray after your heart…” The word them, ensuring they could scout out mitzva of Tzitzit, as taught in the taturu is the same word used to the Land undetected. third paragraph of the Shema. It denote the spies’ mission “veyaturu The appearance of the Land, as is no coincidence that this mitzva et haaretz – they should tour the they viewed it initially, led them to was detailed in the Torah in the land”. Instead, they followed their hasty, incorrect conclusions even aftermath of the story of the spies. hearts, forgetting the message of though they were people of such The tzitzit are mere woollen strings, the last line of the Shema, that God stature. With the at least superficially. Yet it says in took us out of Egypt “to be to us for the that we are expected a God”. He would therefore surely to look beneath the not abandon us on the borders of The appearance of the Land that He promised us! the Land, as they viewed it initially, led them to hasty, incorrect conclusions

the fruit. Their report begins positively, but then warns of the ’ conquest of the Land as long as they do not rebel powerful nations living in the Land and the strength of their against Him, but the people threaten to stone them to death. fortified cities. Calev, one of the spies, tries to reassure the God laments the nation’s lack of faith and threatens to destroy people that they will nevertheless conquer the Land. The them in a plague. Moshe pleads for forgiveness on their other spies, except Yehoshua, contradict him, claiming that it behalf, stressing that other nations may claim that it was is a land "that devours its inhabitants and that all the people beyond God’s power to bring Israel into the Land (see p.3 are giants". The people cry all night in response to this report article). God relents, but with a qualification – all those who and announce that they would seek a new leader who would angered Him will not enter the Land (see next aliya). take them back to Egypt. Moshe and Aharon despair at the people’s reaction to the spies’ report. Yehoshua and Calev tear 4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 14:26-15:7 their clothes in a sign of mourning, and declare the Land to be God decrees that men currently over the age of 20 will die in “very, very good”. the desert over the next 40 years. The spies die in a plague, except Yehoshua and Calev. Moshe tells the nation about 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 14:8-25 the 40-year decree and they mourn. A group of people then Yehoshua and Calev declare that God will ensure the try to enter the Land, despite Moshe’s attempts to dissuade Tehillim (Psalm 130) by Rabbi Yehudah Black, Kenton United Synagogue

This psalm is read It could be interpreted as together with the the depths of the sea, as in Bar’chi Nafshi group Psalm 69:3. In our context, of on Shabbat perhaps it instead refers afternoons during the winter months. to the depths of despair. It is also recited in some Ashkenazi Indeed, Rashi (1040-1105) communities after the Yishtabach notes the many aspects prayer every morning during the Ten of despondency – poverty, Days of Repentance. In addition, it is illness and war – from recited at times of threat or tragedy. which despair may originate. Psalm 130 is the 11th of the Shir Perhaps that is the reason HaMaalot – ‘the songs of ascents’ why this psalm is often said or ‘degrees’ – group of psalms.These in worrying times. psalms were recited as the Kohanim The Talmud (Berachot and Levi’im ascended the steps of the 10b) states that from this Temple. Yet interestingly, this psalm verse we learn that a person begins with the words “I call You from should pray to God from a physically that God provides forgiveness for our the depths”, which is the opposite of low place and from a position of sins, and that provides us with hope. ascent. humility. In some shuls around the Now we understand why this The psalm fluctuates. It begins world, the prayers are led from a psalm begins in the personal, yet in the first person. This is personal, position lower than the rest of the ends by speaking about our national and God is referred to in the second congregation. redemption. Recited in the run-up person. Yet from verse 5 onwards this The Psalmist also states (verse to Yom Kippur, it leaves us with the changes. God is mentioned in the third 3) that our numerous sins create an message that God will ultimately give person: “I hoped for His word”. From obstacle between ourselves and God. us the chance to start again, both verse 7 the transition is complete He adds that if God would hold on to individually and collectively. Perhaps and it is the nation of Israel which is our sins forever, there would never this is the reason why, despite the putting their hope in God. be a chance for atonement. Con- reference to the ‘depths’, it is actually So what is meant by “the depths”? trastingly, verse 4 emphasises the fact the ultimate ‘Song of Ascents’.

In memory of Yisrael Shmuel ben Yirmaya Yehoshuah

them. They are brutally massacred by the Amalekites and one has to take a tithe from the dough (challah). The Torah Cana’anites. specifies the offerings that need to be brought if the whole God tells Moshe to instruct the nation that when they bring nation accidentally worships idols (Rashi). animal offerings, these should be accompanied by a meal offering (mincha) and a wine libation (nesech). 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 15:27-31 The offering brought if an individual accidentally worships 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 15:8-16 idols is detailed, followed by the punishments for intentional The to bring a meal offering and a wine libation idolatry and blasphemy. A man is found desecrating Shabbat extends to all offerings and to all members of the nation. in the desert. God instructs Moshe to put him to death. God tells Moshe to teach the nation about the mitzvah of tzitzit 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 15:17-26 (this passage is the third paragraph of the Shema – see green When making bread from grain grown in the Land of Israel, , p.70). The Victorian Era of the United Synagogue by Simon Goulden, Education Consultant to the United Synagogue

By the end of the Dukes’, among them the Rothschilds, 19th century, the Montagus, Sebag-Montefiores, United Synagogue had Goldsmiths and Sassoons. embedded itself into The minister of Hammersmith the warp and weft of British-Jewish and West Kensington Synagogue, society. Thus the Diamond Jubilee then located in Brook Green, which of Queen Victoria in 1897 offered a had only been admitted to the US chance to express its appreciation for in 1890, gave a sermon praising the the rights and privileges granted to the “most astounding progress, social and community. political” of the Victorian era, in which So it was, that, on Sunday June “ feel a thrill of pride no less than 20th 1897, two days before the official our non-Jewish brethren… We boldly festivities, synagogues across Britain assert that there are no subjects of the marked the occasion by organising Queen more loyal to her service, no choirs to sing dedicatory pieces, … on entering London for people among the variegated host that scattering flowers and ribbons in red, go to make up the British Empire, who white and blue and holding charitable her Jubilee procession, glory more in the name of Englishmen collections for the poor, old or infirm. Queen Victoria was than ourselves.” He added: “No people According to the Jewish Chronicle, are more misunderstood than we some communities hosted meals or greeted first by the are, and we have to prove that our parties for schoolchildren, whilst at Jewish Lord Mayor, Sir religion is no barrier to performing our others, congregants sang God Save undivided duty towards the State.” the Queen in Hebrew or covered the George Faudel-Phillips Words that still ring true today. ark in white vestments or the British In ‘High Victorian English’, the flag. The Chief Rabbi, Dr Herman Adler, It is worth noting that on entering Jewish Chronicle the following week devised a special Jubilee service and at London for her Jubilee procession, declaimed, “Jubilee Shobbos (sic) the JFS, a dinner was held. A Jubilee Queen Victoria was greeted first by would long be remembered… The service was even held for the Jewish the Jewish Lord Mayor, Sir George Jew of the East was as eager to testify inmates of Pentonville Prison. Faudel-Phillips. his pleasure at the spectacle as the To an outside observer, it appeared The United Synagogue service held native Gentile… It was touching in the that Victorian Britain was a great place at the Great Synagogue in Dukes Place, extreme to observe the overwhelming to be Jewish. By Queen Victoria’s City of London, the then ‘seat’ of the feeling which welled up in the hearts Diamond Jubilee, Jews could claim Chief Rabbi, was attended by many of these immigrants and found its due three peers, five baronets, 11 knights of the most prominent members of expression in the shouting forth of the and seven MPs – a significant number. the community, including the ‘Grand national anthem”.

In memory of Yehuda ben Yaakov HaCohen

Haftarah revealed and she helps them escape. Rachav asks them to The haftarah relates that just before the Israelites enter the promise that when the Land is conquered, she and her family Land, Yehoshua sends two spies. They go to Jericho and will be spared; the spies agree. The spies bring a favourable are hidden by a lady called Rachav, but their hiding place is report back to Yehoshua. Sefer Yehoshua Parashat Shelach Lecha and its links to Sefer Yehoshua THE GREATER THE STRUGGLE, THE GREATER THE REWARD by Pnina Savery, US Jewish Living Educator

As a teacher, it is often special reward? Why was Calev called clear that some pupils Calev’s reward “my servant” and Yehoshua not? need to work much was because he The commentary of the Or HaChaim harder than others in Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ben Moshe order to achieve the same results. I was tempted by the ibn Attar, 1696-1743) explained that regularly give more praise for effort Calev’s reward was because he than for the eventual outcome. Often yetzer hara to follow was tempted by the yetzer hara (evil it is that recognition that makes all the the other spies… inclination) to follow the other spies’ difference, encouraging them to keep slander of the land. He had to work trying even when it does not come very hard to avoid succumbing to that naturally. among the Jews. Calev’s request was temptation and to stay true to his In Parashat Shelach Lecha, Moshe simple. He wanted his reward. He trust in God. In contrast, Yehoshua sends 12 men to spy out the land wanted Hebron. Without hesitation, was not tempted to join the spies in of Israel. On their return, ten of the Yehoshua granted his request (Yeho- their slander of the land. Moshe had spies speak negatively of the land, shua Chapter 14). prayed for him to stay strong before exclaiming that the Jewish people Why does Calev receive such a the mission began (see, for example, will never be able to conquer it. Only special reward for his praise of the Rashi’s comment to Bemidbar 13:16 two spoke out in praise of the land, land? Yehoshua Chapter 14 refers where he explains that the addition claiming instead that “we will surely back to the story of the spies when it of the letter ‘yud’ to Yehoshua’s name conquer it”. The two that remained repeats the phrase that he “followed here signifies that Moshe prayed that loyal were Yehoshua ben Nun and faithfully after God” (see 14: 8, 9, 14). “God should save you”). Calev ben Yefuneh. As a reward, This phrase originates in our parsha, This teaches us that the reward is Moshe promised Calev that he would when Calev is promised his reward greater for one who struggles. This be given Hebron. (Bemidbar 14:24). As further proof of does not apply only in a classroom Calev would have to wait 45 years his greatness, God refers to Calev as setting, but rather in all areas of life. to receive this reward. At the age “my servant” (ibid). Pirkei Avot (5:26, p. 562 in the green of 85 Calev approached Yehoshua, Calev acted with greatness when siddur) states “according to the labour who by then was the leader of the he spoke honestly and in praise of the is the reward”. In difficult times this Jewish people. Israel had now been Land of Israel, but so did Yehoshua. can be a comfort that the extra efforts conquered and was being divided up Why was Calev singled out for a do not go unnoticed. Kaddish Buddy Project www.theus.org.uk/kaddish

Among the many hardships and painful experiences since the onset of coronavirus, the inability to say Kaddish for the departed has been one of the most painful and ongoing challenges for mourners

Sign up online and a volunteer in Israel will say Kaddish on your behalf in an approved minyan