SHELACH LEKHA: Defeatism and the Jews

The Jewish people were in the desert, just a few days from reaching the Promised Land. God instructed Moses to send twelve men, the tribes’ leaders, to Israel and explore the territory so they could plan the most effective way to conquer it. The spies returned from their mission and showed the people the fruits of Canaan. They were delighted. What followed was inconceivable and unpredictable: Ten of the twelve explorers expressed tremendous pessimism about the imminent military operation into the land flowing with milk and honey: “We won’t be able to conquer it! The inhabitants are too strong. They are giants. We are small. Insignificant like grasshoppers. We won’t succeed!”

The two leaders faithful to Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, tried to reason with the people, offering the following arguments: “We are not just any nation. We are God’s nation. Have you forgotten who brought us out of Egypt just over a year ago? Do you remember the ten plagues? Don’t you realize that God is guiding us and that He will help us conquer the land? Do not fear! ALO NAALE! We will conquer the land!”

The story ended badly. The people cried, screamed, and protested against Moshe and Aaron. Joshua and Caleb tried to calm them down, but the mob refused to listen and wanted to stone them. It was a very delicate moment for the Jewish people: they were fighting for their future and that of their children. They needed a lot of emotional encouragement and optimism. But these leaders did the opposite! They spread defeatism.

God had to intervene directly to prevent a collective uprising. There were fatalities. God punished that generation in the worst possible way: “karma”. They would have to stay in the desert until they died. The nation will have to wait 40 years: a generational change. It was such a tragic night that we remember it every year on the 9th of Ab. It is the earliest event we remember during the national day of mourning for the Jewish people.

For years, I wondered what motivated the ten spies to be pessimistic. The Tora, true to its style, leaves it open for our interpretation. I read and wrote a lot about it. At first, I couldn’t understand why there was such pessimism. It was illogical, mainly because there was no other alternative for the people. There was no plan B. If they did not fight to conquer the land of Israel, what would they do? Go back to Egypt? Stay in the desert? That is suicidal. In recent years, I have convinced myself that it was a psychological issue: the spies suffered from an inferiority complex. Slave mentality. They were afraid, and panic rapidly spread.

IN THE KNESSET

I arrived in Israel last Monday. As has happened to me before, our experiences in the Jewish State help me understand or attempt a new interpretation of the biblical past based on Israel’s present.

I will now try this once again.

Perhaps the problem with the ten spies was not fear. It was not unintentional. They did not have a slave mentality but rather ambitions for power. The ten leaders represented the opposition to Moses—the anti-Moses coalition. רק לא משה They did not want Moshe to continue leading the people. They tried to defeat him and take over the government formed by a coalition led by them. The first strategic goal was to remove Moses. Accusing him of leading the people to perdition and not knowing what he was doing. Were they insinuating that Moses only sought his personal benefit and to perpetuate his power? If they managed to discourage the people and convince them that Moses’ plan to conquer Israel would fail, everyone would turn against Moses, which is what happened. Or Moses would resign due to emotional exhaustion, which almost happened. And if anyone finds this interpretation anachronistic, whimsical, or biased, remember what is coming next week: Korach, who, along with the “Reubenites” —the descendants of Jacob’s eldest son, who felt that their elite should run the country’s affairs— openly challenge Moses’ leadership. The political rebellion became entirely explicit.

COLLECTIVE DEFEATISM

Israel is so beautiful! There is indeed less tourism this year, but tensions are not noticeable in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Life continues as usual. The economy is strong and healthy. Real estate prices are not falling, which is a reliable indicator of a healthy macroeconomy. There is no shortage of products. Supoermrkets are full. Prices are higher than last year, but the increase in the cost of living is much lower than that experienced by New York, or, say, Buenos Aires, during this last year.

The people of Israel are very united. First, they are united in mourning. They are crying tears for the brave soldiers, the heroes of Israel, who are sacrificing their lives in this war. Thousands or tens of thousands attend the funerals to honor their national heroes and families.

Most of the people are also united by optimism. They understand the magnitude of the tremendous victory of the Israeli army in Gaza. The most optimistic and enthusiastic are the soldiers who come from fighting in Gaza and have seen with their own eyes the incredible military achievements of the IDF, the destruction of Hamas, and the demoralization of the enemy. SEE HERE. https://conta.cc/3VCVeKy

But there are other voices, especially in the media. No fewer than, I would say, ten media outlets out of twelve that represent the deliberate pessimism of the spies in the desert. And unfortunately, they spread their defeatism to the people. A very vocal group that organizes demonstrations burns tires, blocks highways, and promotes anarchy. The leaders of this group support or promote the establishment of a Palestinian state. In my opinion, it is like “going back to Egypt” or “staying in the desert”, i.e., a suicidal idea for Israel. Why do they do it? What is their objective, their endgame? Is it psychological or unconscious defeatism, or is this movement politically motivated? Suppose we follow the interpretation I presented of the ten spies. In that case, it is possible that the plan is to sow pessimism, try to overthrow the government, and take control.

TELL ME WHAT CHANNEL YOU WATCH, AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU THINK

Since I arrived in Israel, I have become an unpaid advertising agent for Channel 14 and Galei Israel radio. These two optimistic (realistically optimistic) media outlets represent the spirit of Joshua and Caleb. I repeat to my family, friends, and even the taxi drivers of Jerusalem: Change the channel! Literally, don’t listen to Channels 12 or 13. Listen to and read Channel 14. Here is the link: www.now14.co.il. Don’t read Haaretz or Yediot Aharonot. Don’t listen to those who, in the best defeatist style of the spies, and with the same political intentions, irresponsibly published a paid advertisement saying that there will be 15,000 dead in the imminent war with Lebanon ח “ו. with the disastrous intention to discourage the people and promote pessimism.

THE TWO SIDES OF FAITH

Joshua and Caleb represent the true Jewish EMUNA in all its dimensions. EMUNA means faith in God, but it also means personal conviction and firmness. Once, Rabbi Eliezer Ben David, z” l, explained this to me in person. First, he asked me: “In whom did Abraham Abinu, the man who changed the world, have faith?” And I naively answered: “Abraham had faith in God.” “Obviously,” said Rab Ben David, “but first, he had faith in himself. You cannot change the world if you do not first have a strong dose of self-esteem.” Brilliant. Faith in oneself is a prerequisite for an active, action-leading faith.

Abraham was precisely the opposite of a defeatist. He showed that faith begins with faith in oneself. The generation that came out of Egypt lacked this; we urgently need it in Medinat Israel.

In the desert, Jews listened to pessimistic voices, succumbed to defeatism, and paid a high price. Let us have faith in AM ISRAEL, in the soldiers of Israel, and in the God of Israel.

As Joshua and Caleb said:

“…to the entire congregation of the children of Israel: ‘The land we explored is very, very good. The Creator favors us, and He will bring us to this land and give us this land that flows with milk and honey. Do not rebel against God, and do not fear the people who live in the land, for they are bread for us [i.e., a piece of cake Y.B.]! God is with us. Do not fear them!’

BAMIDBAR 14:8-10

ויאמרו אל כל עדת בני ישראל לאמר הארץ אשר עברנו בה לתור אתה טובה הארץ מאד מאד

אם חפץ בנו ה‘ והביא אתנו אל הארץ הזאת ונתנה לנו ארץ אשר הוא זבת חלב ודבש

אך בה‘ אל תמרדו ואתם אל תיראו את עם הארץ כי לחמנו הם סר צלם מעליהם וה‘ אתנו אל