From the Rabbi’s Desk
Rabbi Manes Kogan
It is good or bad for the Jews?
In our Sidrah, “The Israelites had reached Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. Twelve representatives, one of each of the tribes, were sent by Moses to explore the promised land of Canaan and to report back on the condition of its populace, dwelling places, and soil”[1]
“Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, “Send forth men, if you please, and let them spy out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Children of Israel; one man each from his father’s tribe shall you send, every one a leader among them” (Numbers 13:1-2).
“The spies secretly crossed the mountain path of the Negev in southern Canaan and traversed the land until the extreme north. They returned to the assembly after an absence of forty days bringing with them huge clusters of grapes, pomegranates, and figs as evidence of the land’s fertility. However, ten of the Meraglim (the spies) claimed that it would be impossible for the Children of Israel to conquer Canaan. They felt that the cities were too strongly fortified and that the inhabitants were too powerful. Calev and Yehoshua disassociated themselves from this pessimistic report and counseled that the people should march on Canaan. The people, though, sided with the majority report and lost heart. They broke into open rebellion and proposed the election of a leader to lead them back to Egypt. They refused to listen to the renewed pleas of Calev and Yehoshua and threatened to stone them. Hashem was angered by this lack of faith and he expressed His intention to destroy the people. Moses again interceded successfully on the Israelites’ behalf. But while their destruction was avoided, the Children of Israel were condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years. The ten spies who had delivered the negative report died of a sudden plague”[2]
We can ask ourselves: Why did Moses get angry at the ten spies? Why did God punish them? They were asked to bring a report - They brought a report. Moses told them to share the facts – They shared the facts. Doesn’t Moses need to accept their judgment?
“On the surface, the spies did nothing wrong in describing what they had seen. They had been sent to make their own observations, and they could not be faulted for reporting the truth as they saw it.
The problem, I would like to suggest is that the spies wanted –at the beginning- to achieve a status of neutral observers and they didn’t succeed. They wanted to present mere facts, but they ended speaking out their minds.
The spies misread their mission. They saw themselves as tourists describing a landscape, as Middle East UN observers. They didn’t realize their journey was part of a bigger plan, a plan not only bigger than the journey itself but also bigger than their temporary position of leadership.
When there is no plan, you might be able to be neutral. However, once a plan was outlined –and moreover a plan of the magnitude of the Exodus of Egypt- you can’t be neutral: you are in favor or against.
How do we relate to those countries, which were neutral during the Second World War? Do we accept their neutrality with understanding? Surely not! For us they are accomplices! Think on Swiss or the Vatican, for example.
How do we relate to the “neutral” American press, the CNN, for example and their coverage of the Middle East conflict? Do we really believe that the press can be impartial?
There is a thin line that once you crossed it, you stop being reliable. You stop being one of us and you become one of them.
The Haftarah
Rachav the one who couldn’t be neutral.
The Angel and Joshua
“Halanu Ata Im Letzareinu”
Being neutral in Jewish education!
You increase in holiness or decrease!
The opposite term for “committed”, “Passionate”, “enthusiastic” is indifferent, another word for “neutral”.
You can still be neutral (or indifferent) regarding a soccer game. It won’t really affect the destiny of the Jewish people. However, the higher your position of leadership, the more your involvement with transcendental issues, the less you can allow yourself not to take a stand.
The spies were not wicked people. They just wanted to play “neutral”.
Moses’ blessing to Joshua: May the Almighty save you from the counsel of the spies!
May the Almighty save us from the counsel of the spies!
Shabbat Shalom!