Throughout life we always faced with the challenge of change. There may be various forces from within or without calling upon us to alter the course of routine. Naturally a person is comfortable with the familiar and therefore resistant to and even fearful of change that may actually be for the better.
At such a juncture one will ask “Should I change? Is it worth it?” This will inevitably result in retaining the status quo. To overcome this paralysis one needs to simply edit one word of the sentence. The question should be “How can I change?”
In this week’s parsha we learn of the tragic story of the Israelite spies entrusted with a historic mission: to scout out the land of Israel in preparation of their entry and conquest of the land. The realization of the long anticipated promise of G-d to the patriarchs that their progeny will inherit the Holy Land. Alas, the spies failed miserably and returned with a report that caused a hysteria of dissent in the Israelite camp and had everyone wailing in mourning for a full night.
They shared an extremely negative impression of the land and its inhabitants. Cities so fortified that were impossible to penetrate and mighty warriors so frighteningly large that the spies felt like grasshoppers in their sight. The verdict was clear: An attempt to enter the land was certain suicide.
The fallout of their behavior was severe. The entire generation was destined never to enter the land they had rejected so harshly and inheritance of the Promised Land would take only forty years later. The night of wailing was the Tisha B’Av (the 9th of Av) and destined by G-d as a day of tragedy and mourning in every generation.
The ten spies who were guilty of inciting the people against G-d, died in a terrible fashion shortly after. A disturbing ending to a mission undertaken by some of the greatest and brightest of our nation at the time.
Whereas the spies had indeed accomplished their mission, their blunder was in a few extra sentences of their report. Moses instructed them to gather vital intelligence about the terrain and the enemy so that proper plans can be made for the upcoming invasion. This they accomplished to highest standard. Yet they overstepped their boundaries by offering a prognosis: It cannot be done. This was their grave mistake with tragic repercussions for generations.
The episode of the spies is ongoing, and we have the opportunity to alter the course of this narrative. When faced with the opportunity to do a mitzvah, to help a fellow or to contribute to the community, we must ask ourselves how to do it and not should it be done. We have been endowed with gifts beyond our comprehension and it is within our power to tap into our divine energy with the proper perspective of “how”.
Let us change our lexicon and commit ourselves to do all that we can to strengthen and cultivate our beautiful local Jewish community.