Every year when the Torah portion cycle reaches Parshat Shlach I am horrified yet again and engulfed by a dreadful feeling. This parsha which tells the story of the twelve spies sent out by Moshe Rabbeinu to scout the Land of Israel and present him with their impressions relates two basic points which touch our every day lives in Israel today.

The mishna at the end of tractate Ta’anit says that the first tragic event that occurred on the 9th of Av was the sin of the spies. When ten of the spies returned with negative and pessimistic reports the Torah says: The people cried that night (Bamidbar 14:1). Their conclusion was that it is impossible to go on to Eretz Yisrael because of the dangers and the difficulties and therefore they asked to return to Egypt.

Our sages tell us that upon hearing the cries of the Jewish people Hashem declared: You cried when you had no reason to cry so I will give you a reason to cry throughout the generations.

Our sages explain that this was the night of the 9th of Av. All tragedies that befell the Jewish people on the 9th of Av were a result of the sin of the spies namely a breach of faith in the guidance of the Almighty. To this day I feel that the weakness among some of our leaders stems from that same lack of faith courage and determination to settle the land of Israel.

Nowhere in the Torah can there be found such fierce and outspoken words by G-d in response to the Children of Israel’s refusal to enter the land of Israel. When ten of the spies came back and declared that the inhabitants of the land are stronger than Him G-d’s response was: How much longer will this nation continue to provoke me and not believe in me despite all the miracles I have performed for them? (Bamidbar 14:11)

What makes me fearful is the thought that G-d might say the same thing to us today: After all I’ve done for the Jewish people you still don’t have faith in being guided by divine power to settle and build the land of Israel. After 2 000 years of exile suppression pogroms massacres and holocaust the Jewish people were delivered by the Almighty into the Promised Land and seeds were sown for a revived proud and productive Jewish nation. A devastated and discouraged people who had witnessed unimaginable atrocities turned Israel into a thriving and industrious state – a barren land into a Garden of Eden. 

After G-d helped us establish Jewish independence 55 years ago after He us back to the liberated hills of Judea and Samaria 36 years ago after we had the merit to participate and witness the renewal of Jewish life in ancient towns like Hebron Shilo Beit El and Jerusalem – after all this how dare Jewish leaders come and repeat the unfaithful words of the spies our enemies are stronger than us. 

How can our leaders say we won’t be able to overcome the pain and difficulties of Arab terror inflicted upon us in addition to the powerful pressure applied by other nations so therefore let us yield and compromise on our homeland? I shudder at the thought that G-d forbid we could receive the same response heard by the generation of the spies. If you don’t want Eretz Yisrael and you don’t appreciate the eternal strength and divine inspiration of the land I can restore the pre-’67 boundaries which left 8 kilometers between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern border. 

If we don’t deserve Eretz Yisrael the Almighty can delay the inheritance for the next generation until a leadership arises that will have complete faith in G-d who imbues us with the strength and courage to insure Jewish life in all of Eretz Yisrael.

But then I hear an inner voice calling to me from the depths of my Jewish soul: Enough trembling do not fear our faith has been tested and is stronger than ever. There is consolation and hope. We must always remember that in merit of two of the spies two great Jews of faith Yehoshua and Calev the G-d of Israel finally brought the Jews into Eretz Yisrael. In contrast to the majority of the spies they declared that if G-d is pleased with us He will bring us into this land and give it to us a land truly flowing with milk and honey   (Bamidbar 14:8). 

Our generation has hundreds of thousands of Yehoshuas and Calevs Jews of complete faith determination and devotion who have risen up to the task and mitzvah of settling the land and turning barren hills into thriving Jewish communities. Living proof that the land is indeed flowing with milk and honey. Certainly G-d will reward our faith by insuring the continuous growth and development of Jewish life in all of Eretz Yisrael.

I have a very serious and ominous message for our prime minister Mr. Sharon. Jewish leaders are entrusted with the fate of the Jewish people and are therefore blessed with divine guidance and inspiration to lead our people in the path chosen to continue the process of redemption in the land of Israel.

Mr. Prime Minister this is the only road map that can succeed in securing our lives and bringing our people to their destination. Truly this is quite a heavy burden but an authentic Jewish leader cannot shirk his unique national responsibility despite the pressures difficulties and pain wrought upon us. Mr. Sharon it is not only your leadership that is being put on the line it is the life and destiny of the Jewish people. This process of redemption is divinely guided. The question is who will have the merit courage and visionary foresight to lead our people on this road?

I pray dear Mr. Sharon that you too will draw your inspiration and guidance from those two great Jewish leaders Yehoshua and Calev who succeeded in their mission of bringing the Jewish nation into Eretz Yisrael. Their legacy calls upon you not to weaken the position of our communities in Yitzhar  Beit El Elon Moreh in the hills of Judea and Samaria G-d forbid. The success of your leadership can only be proven by your continuing to strengthen and develop the Jewish communities in the hills of Yesha thereby deepening our roots in our homeland. 

These words of concern hope and prayer are being written in the town of Kiryat Arba – Hebron – inspired by the faith of our father Abraham and his great-grandson Calev ben Yefuneh who inherited the city of the Patriarchs in merit of this faith. We can still hear the words of Calev reverberating in the hills of Hebron calling to us: We can indeed go up and take possession of the land for we are truly able to do so (Bamidbar 13:30)

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Rabbi Eliezer Waldman is rosh yeshivaof Yeshivat Nir Kiryat Arba.