SHELACH

Shalom, Shalom. We commence this DEVAR TORAH by focusing upon the interpretation of the title of the PARASHAT, SHELACH. The IVRI transliteration SHELACH carries with it the idea to SEND FORTH. In particular, it is descriptive of the action of MOSHE REBEYNU sending forth spies to SEE THE LAND, HOW IS IT? THE PEOPLE THAT DWELLS IN IT, ARE THEY STRONG OR WEAK? FEW OR NUMEROUS? HOW IS THE LAND IN WHICH IT DWELLS, IS IT GOOD OR BAD? HOW ARE THE CITIES IN WHICH IT DWELLS, ARE THEY OPEN OR FORTIFIED? HOW IS THE LAND, IS IT FERTILE OR LEAN? ARE THERE TREES OR NOT? Then it goes on to say, “You shall strengthen yourselves and take from the fruit of the Land.” The question is, what is implied by the statement “You shall strengthen yourselves?”

From the DEVARIM (words) of King Solomon, it is obvious that ECHAD has predetermined events that take place in the earthen REALM. It is written, “I realized that whatever God does will endure forever; Nothing can be added to it and nothing can be subtracted from it, and God has acted so that (man) should stand in awe of Him. What has been, already exits and what is still to be, has already been, and God always seeks the pursued.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14,15) In this passage of KETHUVIM, it is evident from the CONCEPT, THAT WHAT has been already exists and what is still to be, has already been, that this statement is based upon the idea the ECHAD PREDETERMINES EVENTS. It is also evident that the PREDETERMINED EVENTS ARE CYCLIC in NATURE. In other words, the Jewish People possessing the LAND OF CANAAN was PREDETERMINED BY ECHAD, yea, what G-d has predestined can not be DENIED. Thus the sending forth of the spies was not for the purpose of SURVEY, i.e. to determine whether or not they would be able to be VICTORIOUS over the INHABITANTS of the LAND.

This EMET (truth) leaves us with the IDEA that the purpose of the SPIES being sent has to do with DIVINE INTENT. In other words, they were sent to align themselves with DIVINE INTENT. It has been promised to our ABBA AVRAHAM that “I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourns - the whole of the land of CANAAN - as an everlasting possession…” (Genesis 17:8) In this portion of TORAH, it is disclosed that the land of CANAAN had been predetermined by ECHAD to be given to AM Yisrael. Thus the spies were not being sent to determine whether or not they were able to POSSESS the LAND, but rather to strengthen the INTENT to do so.

This suggests that the Jewish People are SENT to demonstrate to OLAM the POWER OF INTENTION. The INTENTION that is based upon what G-d has promised. The INTENT is not only to make ALLEYAH to the LAND, but also into a CONSCIOUS UNION with G-d, yea, the time has come that the MANY are to become the ONE. Let us align our INTENTION with both the ASCENSION to the LAND and our ONENESS with ECHAD.