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Parshat Shelach Lecha No 1677: 23 Sivan 5777 (June 17, 2017)
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WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER? Membership: $50.00
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We are in the process of collecting membership dues for 2017.
Please show your support and join as a member or renew your membership at this time.
Religious Zionists of America
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office@rza.org, www.rza.org
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Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha
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We are pleased to add a new column to our Weekly Emails. Rabbi Moshe Lichtman is a respected author and scholar living in Beit Shemesh who has written extensively about the centrality of the Land of Israel. Each week we plan to include a selection from his Sefer “Eretz Yisrael in the Parashah.”
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Dvar Torah from
Rabbi Moshe D. Lichtman
Parshat Shelach Lecha
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SLANDERING THE LAND
"We all know that the saddest day of the Jewish calendar is Tish’a B’Av, but how many of us know how it all started? And even if we know the historical facts, how many of us have truly internalized the lessons?
It all started in this week’s parashah. Chazal have a tradition that the Sin of the Spies took place on the ninth of Av, and on that night HaShem told the Children of Israel, “You wept in vain; I will establish for you weeping for all generations” (Ta’anit 29a). The Mishnah (Ta’anit 4:6) lists five tragic events that occurred on Tish’a B’Av, including the destruction of both Temples. The first tragedy was the episode of the Spies, making it the source of all of our troubles throughout history. Therefore, it behooves us to understand this sin, so that we can rectify it and bring about the ultimate redemption, which will transform Tish’a B’Av into a joyous holiday."
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We are pleased to announce a new initiative: Each week, we will (translate and) feature a d’var Torah from a different Rosh Yeshiva of a Dati L’umi Yeshivat Hesder in Israel. Our goal is – until we get there ourselves – to bring Torat Yisrael closer to America.
W
e are also pleased to feature a different Religious Zionist rabbi each week from around the country to share a Dvar Torah.
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Rabbi Alan Haber
Founder of Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim, and teacher at Midreshet and Yeshivat Torah Va'avoda, Nishmat, and Matan.
Alon Shvut, Israel
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"When describing the sin of the spies, the Torah uses a somewhat unusual term: “Vayotziu dibat ha’aretz” (Numbers 13:32). While this is usually translated as “they spoke evil about the land” or “they slandered the land,” the exact meaning of the word “diba” is elusive. The word appears only a few other times in the Bible, and only one of these is in a narrative context, describing something bad that Joseph told his father about his brothers: “Vayave Yosef et dibatam ra’ah el avihem” (Genesis 37:2). However, since the Torah does not inform us of the content of Joseph’s report to his father, the precise meaning of the term remains unclear.
In addition to the uncommon word used to describe their report, there is something quite unusual about the specific type of evil speech through which the spies sinned.
Jewish law describes several different offences in the category of evil speech. Spreading false rumors or lies is called motzi shem ra. Additionally, there are other offences called lashon hara and rechilut that prohibit revealing negative true information without justification. So there are sins involving lies, and sins involving the truth. In which category should we place the dibat ha’aretz of the spies?
Continue Reading Rabbi Haber Here...
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Rabbi Wesley Kalmar
Rabbi of Anshe Sfard Kehilat Torah
Milwaukee, WI
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"The theme of the parsha of Shelach is the meraglim, the spies. God and Moshe send the spies out to check out the land of Israel. They go, they spy, and they return. They tell the people what they saw – “we have come into the land to which you sent us, it flows with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. But, the people that dwell there are very powerful, the cities are fortified, and there are giants there Furthermore, our enemies, the Amaleki, the Chitti, the Yevusi, and the Emori are nearby… We cannot defeat these people, for they are too strong, it is a land that devours its’ inhabitants… All the people are huge, and we were like grasshoppers compared to them.” That is the report of the spies. How does the Torah characterize the report of the spies - vayotziu dibas ha-aretz asher taru osah - they brought forth an evil report on the land that they had spied out. The Torah condemns the report of the meraglim as evil. But what was so evil about it? What did they do that was so wrong? Did they say anything that wasn’t true? The cities were fortified, Amalek was there, the Jews were like grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants. Was it wrong for them to tell the truth? What did they do that was so bad?"
Continue Reading Rabbi Kalmar Here...
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The RZA-Aryeh Fellowship is a new initiative of the RZA-Mizrachi to strengthen the mission of Religious Zionism. Fifty college and graduate school students from around the country have been invited to spend their winter-break in Israel where they studied Torah and attended intensive seminars devoted to Religious Zionism education. Sincce their return the Aryeh Fellows have been focused on their year-long Manhigut (leadership) projects designed to bring the message of Religious Zionism back to communities across America. We are excited to profile a different “Aryeh Fellow” each week.
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Meet Jennifer van Amerongen
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Jen van Amerongen is passionate about her college community, informal education, Medinat Yisrael, and summer camp and is now proud to say that she is an RZA Aryeh Fellow.
Hailing from Woodmere, New York, Jen is a graduate of Yeshiva University’s High School for girls called Central. Following high school she learned in Migdal Oz of Yeshivat Har Etzion. Presently, Jen is a student leader in Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women and is majoring in Judaic Studies and Philosophy.
In her capacity as a student leader on campus, Jen served as President of the Beit Midrash Committee at Stern last year in which I implemented Torah learning initiatives and helped strengthen the learning and community in the Beit Midrash. This year, Jen served as a vice president to the Torah Activities Council with a focused aim at revamping the shabbat experience in Stern College which entails everything to food orders, contacting speakers, creating the schedule, and organizing Tefilla. In this position, Jen is able to have a hand in shaping the community on her campus.
Additionally, Jen is a longtime Camp Moshava Indian Orchard camper and staff member. Camp Moshava and Bnei Akiva helped instill in her a passion for Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael, the importance of summer camp and informal education. She was also a counselor on Bnei Akiva’s Mach Hach Baaretz, and is a member of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada's National Board.
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Art Contest - Entry Deadline Now Extended Until December 31st!
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Six Day War Series - Now Complete
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Yom Yerushalayim Mega Mission Photos
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Click here to see the photos from the historic Yom Yerushalayim celebration in Israel!
Photos courtesy of World Mizrachi.
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Yom Yerushalayim Honor Roll
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In honor of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem we are so pleased that more than 220 communities participated in the RZA YY Honor Roll. To appreciate the creativity and diversity of Yom Yerushalayim events that took place in Shuls and schools across North America, please click HERE to see sample flyers from participating institutions.
Click Here To See the Full List of Names!
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Show your support of Israel!
Please reply to this email to order your "United with Jerusalem" buttons.
These buttons are perfect to hand out at your events and celebrations.
$36 per 100 buttons.
Please contact our office at
212-465-9234 or office@rza.org
to order!
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Religious Zionists of America | World Mizrachi | 212.465.9234 | 212.465.9246 | mizrachi@rza.org www.rza.org
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