" SHALOM. Today is 26 Sivan 5779. We that the spies brought with them, namely, figs, grapes and bensch Rosh Chodesh Tammuz which will be next pomegranates. (R. Menachem Ziemba).

Wednesday and Thursday. The re-appearance of the 4. When the spies came back from the land of to moon will be Tuesday morning at 3:38pm and 2 report to the Jewish people in the Sinai Desert, they said in chalakim (about 7 seconds), time. We omit their preamble, "And we were in our own sight as Av HaRachamim. grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." The Kotzker

Rebbe, a great Chassidic , said that their mistake lies DIALOGUE in the words "and so we were in their sight." They worried (p. 623 Hz) (p. 860 S) (p. 560 Hi) (p. 798 AS) too much about image and not enough about truth. Worrying SHELACH Numbers 13:1 about what people think creates anxiety for approval and [Compiled by Edward Davis (RED), Rabbi Emeritus, gives others control over you. Focus on doing what is right Young Israel of Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale] and proper. Do not allow your self-image to be dependent

1. The main story in this week's Torah reading is the sin of on the arbitrary approval and disapproval of others. When the spies in their mission to the Promised Land. As part of you view yourself as inferior, you will assume that others also Moshe's charge to the spies, he asked them "Is there a tree view you in this manner. Realize your intrinsic value as a in it (the land) or not?" (13:20). If Moshe actually did not being created in the image of the Almighty, you will be held know whether or not there were any trees in the land, how in higher regard by others and be able to stand up for your own beliefs! did he direct them to bring back the fruit of the land? Perhaps there were, in fact, no trees at all and therefore no fruit to be 5. Challah: The Mitzvah to separate and give Challah to a had! It is for this reason that Rashi interprets Moshe's Kohen is introduced by the words "When you come into the original instructions allegorically, rather than literally. The land to which I am bringing you there." This verse is not intent of Moshe was for the men to see whether there was a needed to inform them that the Jewish people will be entering "tree", meaning a strong leader who was capable of the land of Israel, as they have already been told. Rather, it protecting and defending the people of Canaan with his comes to teach the proper attitude towards Israel and its merits just as a tree protects with its foliage and defends with produce; the attitude that the spies did not have. The its timber. The Or HaChayim, on the verse (Devarim 8:9), "a separation of Challah teaches us to do what the spies sought land...in which there will be nothing lacking," explains that to prevent, namely, to properly express our appreciation for Eretz Yisrael is unique among the countries of the world in God's gift of the land of Israel and its produce. The that within its borders it has the ability to sustain all the connection to Challah goes one step further, as based on the species of trees in the world Accordingly, Moshe was asking word B'voachem–in your coming. There is a Halacha that the spies to actually determine this fact itself, for he wanted the Torah obligation of Challah only applies when the entire to know the agricultural capacities of the land: "Does it have Jewish nation resides in Israel. If the spies tried to turn us trees" of different types, "or does it not have (a wide variety away from Israel, the Mitzvah of Challah teaches that we all of) trees?" belong in Israel.

2. "We came to the land where you sent us, and indeed it HAFTORAH is a land flowing with milk and honey" (13:27). The spies (p. 635 Hz) (p. 875 S) (p. 892 Hi) (p. 1184 AS) spoke first in praise of the land. However, even this was only JOSHUA 2:1 in order to enable them to degrade the land and discourage the people. If an enemy, coming to conquer a city, sees that The story of the Haftorah relates another spy story– he cannot defeat the inhabitants due to their strong defense, Joshua sent two spies to help plan the conquering of Jericho. he can then plan to lay siege to the city in order to stop all Tradition identifies the two spies as Calev and Pinchas, who supplies from entering. No community is completely self- go to Jericho, to the home of Rachav. Rachav relates how sufficient, and without some help from the outside, the people the locals are terrified of God and Israel. The spies of the city will be doomed to surrender. In their report, the immediately return to Joshua and are beholden to Rachav spies emphasized that the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael were for her protection. She in turn seeks protection for her family mighty. Yet, even such an enemy can normally be overcome (although no mention is made of a husband or children). A by cutting off their flow of supplies and food. The spies knew red string will identify her house when the conquering begins. that Bnei Yisrael might have realized this, so they prefaced (Perhaps this is the origin of some Jews tying a red string on their report by warning that the Land of Israel was indeed their wrists to ward off the Evil Eye and to preserve and to blessed and self-sufficient. This being the case, the chances acquire health and family.) This invasion of Bnei Yisrael into of conquering it were very slim. (Ktav Sofer). Canaan pits the Jewish army against all the Canaanite nations. These idolaters could technically remain as resident 3. What significance is there in the choice of fruit which the aliens by adopting the laws of the Noachide Code. Joshua spies brought back with them? (13:23). The Ari Hakodosh was quite successful in the conquest of Canaan, but the points out that the spies lacked sufficient love for Eretz say that had Moshe succeeded with the initial group Yisrael. The remedy for this deficiency is found immediately and brought the Jews into Canaan, the Jews would have in the Mitzvah of Bikkurim–bringing the first fruits to the been able to build the Holy Temple immediately and that Mikdash. This Mitzvah engenders love of the Land and Temple would have stood forever. Thus not only was God to applies only to those fruits for which Eretz Yisrael is famous. bring in a new generation, but it was necessary to bring a As a matter of fact, Mishnah Bikkurim (3:1), in explaining how new leader. Bikkurim are taken, mentions only those three types of fruits "

QUESTIONS FOR PARSHAT SHELACH 5779 by Rabbi Edward Davis, Rabbi Emeritus

I. From the Text 1. Who tried to silence the spies? (13:30) 2. What was the punishment for Bnei Yisrael for the sin of the spies? (14:....) 3. What was the punishment for the spies themselves? (14:37) 4. Who were the Mapilim? (14:40...) 5. What was the purpose of the Mitzvah of Tzitzit? (15:39) II. From Rashi 6. Why is the sin of the spies immediately following Miriam’s speaking Lashon HaRa against her brother? (13:2) 7. Who was the spy who went to Chevron to pray at the graves of the Patriarchs? (13:22) 8. What was the Shiur (the minimum measurement), the required amount of dough to be given in the Mitzvah of Challah? (15:20) 9. After one Shabbat in the desert, during which everyone kept Shabbat, there was a person who desecrated the Shabbat. He was sentenced to be executed. What did they ask Hashem for? (15:34) 10. In the Mitzvah of Tzitzit , the 4 fringes are tied to create 8 fringes on each corner. What significance was there in the number 8? (15:41) III. From the Rabbis 11. Why did Moshe pray only for Yehoshua to stand up against the evil spies? (Gur Aryeh) 12. The people realized their sin and confessed and repented. Why didn’t Hashem accept their apology? (Or HaChaim) 13. Why was the Shabbat desecrator executed in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel? () IV. Haftorah : Joshua 14. Whose house did the spies visit in Jericho? V. Relationships a) Itamar - Pinchas b) Calev - Elazar c) Eliezer - Calev d) Leah - Osnat e) Aminadav - Elisheva

ANSWERS FOR PARSHAT SHELACH 5779

1. Calev 2. The generation of the spies would die naturally over the next 39 years in the desert. 3. They died then in a plague. 4. A group of Jews who immediately went up and attempted to go to Canaan. They died in the desert. 5. To remember all the Mitzvot in the Torah. 6. The spies should have learned a lesson from Miriam’s misfortune and not to speak poorly about the Land. 7. Calev. 8. For a baker one part in 48; for a regular person, one part in 24. 9. For guidance as to the form of execution. 10. It was 8 days from the Exodus from Egypt until they sang Shira at the Splitting of the Sea. 11. It would reflect poorly upon Moshe, his teacher, if Joshua sided with the spies. 12. That apology was motivated by the punishment and was not sincere. 13. To serve as a deterrent to all to see the consequences of desecrating the Shabbat. 14. Rachav’s house. Relationships a) Uncle Itamar b) Uncle Calev c) Uncle Calev d) Grandmother Leah e) Father Aminadav