Shabbat Shelach-Lecha

Written by Rabbi Dr Michael Shire Thursday, 15 June 2006

Parashat Shelach-lecha

This famous passage of the 12 scouts occurs in two places in the Torah, once in Deuteronomy and here in Numbers. They go on a 40 day journey out of the desert into the land of Israel and return with ripe fruits. Ten of the scouts report that it is a land flowing with milk and honey but also that it is filled with giants. They say ‘we are like grasshoppers in their sight.’ At the College this week, we have held the thesis defence of our three graduating rabbinic students. They have worked enormously hard in producing three of the finest rabbinic theses and defended them confidently and competently in front of their teachers and examiners. As part of this final phase of their rabbinic programme we also met with them to reflect on the past five years. They too look out from the College and wonder what is out there? They are about to embark on a long journey into Jewish leadership and community that will surely be filled with ripe fruit. However they also recognize that it will not all be roses along the way. It is not possible for one man or woman to fill the needs of all his or her congregants and there will be obstacles in their path. As they are about to become rabbis, they may too feel that they are like grasshoppers in the sight of the communities that they have chosen to serve.

They should take hope from Joshua and Caleb, the two scouts that disagreed with the majority. Joshua and Caleb urged the people to take the have faith in God and see the possibilities that lie ahead in a new terrain and new direction. Though the people do not listen and are left to wander for 40 years more, in the end it is Joshua and Caleb who lead the people into the Promised Land. As we ordain three more leaders for our Jewish community, let us respond to their call for a renewed Jewish commitment and for their work in inspiring a new generation to live out the blessings of an ancient people.

Rabbi Dr Michael Shire