We are living in a period in time in which there are a lot of unknowns. How long will this virus be a part of our daily lives? How many more lives will be lost due to it? What will a return to “normal life” look like? Will we be able to make a difference in the fight against racism in this country? How can we really make social change for those who need it most?
Our Torah portion, Shelach Lecha shows us two different approaches to the question of how do you approach uncertainty? We are informed by Parshat Shelach Lecha about the report of the spies who went to survey the land and its inhabitants. The spies say, “The land that we traversed and spied is one that eats its settlers. All the people we saw in it are men of giant size…and we looked like grasshoppers to ourselves, and so we must have looked to them.” (Numbers 13:32-33) The spies were intimidated and were scared of not knowing if they could live in the land that God gave them. They let this fear of uncertainty stop them from moving forward. In our own time, we are also caught in a web of uncertainty. That web can be as paralyzing as a spider web.
Joshua and Caleb take a different approach to uncertainty. Unlike the other spies, Joshua and Caleb tell the children for Israel that they shall gain possession of the land and that If God is pleased with them, then God will bring them into the land to be given to them. Joshua also says, “Have no fear over the people of the land for they are our prey: their protection has departed from them but the Lord is with us. Have no fear of them.” (Numbers Chapter 14:8-9)
Joshua and Caleb seem to understand that they don’t know fully what lies ahead, but they know there is a beautiful land that awaits them. They don’t know how they will get there, but their faith in God and their people will help them make it happen. The result of this is that Joshua and Caleb actually make it into the land of Israel because of their attitude, their faith and how they approach uncertainty.
Life will never be free of uncertainty—but if we anchor ourselves in love and trust that God is with us, even when the world seems overwhelming—we have a better chance of getting through the dark times. We also have a better chance at happiness if we reach out and help each other. That may be the essence of God and what we were brought here to do.
For the month of June, each time a $2.50 reusable community bag Is purchased at Stop&Shop, located at 2450 Jerusalem Avenue in North Bellmore, or 702 Hicksville Road in Massapequa, $1 will be donated to the Alix Rubinger Kosher Food Pantry.
Please purchase these bags to help to enable us to continue feeding the hungry in our community.
Happy Father's Day!
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Congregation Beth Ohr 2550 South Centre Avenue Bellmore NY 11710 (516) 781-3072 officestaff@cbohr.org
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism