We Need Energy 

So what’s new? Israel is once again the center of world attention.

What are we to make of it all? What’s the lesson for us? And how are we to react?

As Jews, the Torah is our source of inspiration. Its timeless messages have personal relevance and serve as our guidebook through life. So let’s take a look at this week’s Torah reading and see what light it can shed on the current situation. 

Moses sends 12 men to scout the land of Israel. They are supposed to return with a plan of how best to conquer Israel. Yet instead of bringing back hope and optimism to their people, they instill fear and panic within their hearts, telling them of a land so fortified, so powerful, that conquering it would be an impossibility.

In order to demoralize the people, the men reported the following: “There (in Israel) we saw the giants . . . in our eyes we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes.”

These words of the Torah teach us, perhaps, the greatest secret to victory and success. To quote Ford Motor Company’s mogul: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't - you're right.” It all depends on us.

This then is the meaning of the verse“..in our eyes we seemed like grasshoppers and so we were in their eyes”. It was only because they saw themselves as being insignificant that others did as well. If they would have felt empowered – being messengers of G‑d Himself - they would have been able to bring back a successful strategy by which to enter Israel.

Though more than 3300 have passed since this episode, the story remains the same today. Throughout its short 62 year history, whenever Israel has taken the initiative; has acted with confidence and resolve; has been unapologetic; and is undaunted by “what others will say”, they are applauded and respected on the world stage. (The Six Day War, and the raid on Entebbe are just two examples.)

The only one who can take away our dignity, self respect, and self worth is - us.

This applies to each of us as well. When we are proud of our heritage; when we feel honored to be a member of a people chosen by G‑d to be a “light unto the nations”; when we take our responsibility to act as Jews seriously - we earn respect and create harmony between who we are and how others see us.

So in the wake of this week’s events let us strengthen our commitment to be proud Jews and let us express this pride in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Let’s do a Mitzvah Today!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Raleigh Resnick