Parshas Shelach 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
ויהס כלב את העם אל משה ויאמר עלה נעלה וירשנו אתה כי יכול נוכל לה ... (יג-ל)
Klal Yisroel, due to the current matzav, is overcome with trepidation, both from a physical standpoint as well as an emotional one, and it would behoove us to glean some insight from the parsha. Parshas Shelach discusses this very topic: Eretz Yisroel at war. The meraglim had been sent and returned with a frightening report. The land would be difficult to conquer and its inhabitants were mighty and ferocious, with powerful giants. Both Yehoshua and Calev responded: "וה' אתנו אל תיראום". In other words, from a strategic and logical perspective, you may be right. But a Yid’s war isn’t won with brute strength. Rather, Hashem fights for us. As it says in Tehillim: "אלה ברכב ואלה בסוסים ואנחנו בשם ה' אלקינו נזכיר". That being the case, there is absolutely no power that can stand in our way. This idea is foundational to our faith, and follows us to this day. As we are being nosei b’ol with our fellow Jews under fire, let us remember Who really helps us, and daven to Him.
The vort I was going to write about is based on the above posuk: "ויהס כלב את העם" - Calev quelled the uproar. He was praised for that and duly rewarded. The question is that if it didn’t fully accomplish what Calev intended since the meraglim continued to spread lies and succeeded in sweeping the Yidden into rebellion, why was he rewarded?
R’ Moshe Feinstein zt”l answers that we see from here that even if one’s goals are only temporarily achieved, it is still worth it. Calev quieted the nation down and the spies had to change-up their rhetoric. Those few moments of the meraglim “re-strategizing” their plan was the accomplishment for which Calev received his accolades and schar.
In life, it is worth noting this. Whether it’s holding back a (even well-deserved) retort, not uttering words of lashon hara, or not fomenting machlokes, we have no idea how much we could be achieving. May הקב"ה see our efforts, hear our tefillos and bring an end to ourחבלי משיח , culminating in והשתחוו לה' בהר הקודש בירושלים במהרה בימינו אמן.