What's New Rabbi's Article How We Are Judged
The story is told of a boy coming home from a baseball game, when the good ol’ Dodgers were still in Brooklyn. He excitedly called to his mother, “Guess what, Ma… the Dodgers won!”
After a few moments, the mother replied, “Tell me, sonny, is that good for the Jews?”
Having been a minority for centuries, it is logical to be sensitive as to how the world feels about us. Sometimes we are even concerned that the leaders of the State of Israel, where we are not a minority, are overly sensitive in formulating their policies, to world pressures.
This danger, and its subsequent consequences, is clearly illustrated in the story of the Spies who were sent to investigate the land of Israel, prior to our entry. In the weekly portion of Shelach, which we are presently reading, we learn about the fatal error that ten of these Spies made when they gave their report. “There we saw the Nephilim (very tall people)… we were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes!” (Numbers 13:33)
How very clear and how infinitely sad! The representatives of Israel, a people recently rescued by G-d Himself from their Egyptian bondage, felt like grasshoppers! The natives of the country sensed their feeling of inferiority and, as a result, looked scornfully down at them as if they were grasshoppers. The princes of Israel had no faith in their ability to conquer the Land and thus caused despair and panic among the people.
What a lesson for each and every one of us. If we want the respect of our neighbors and the world, and I suspect that we all have that desire, it must start with us. We must have the self-respect which earns us the esteem and even admiration of the world.
There is only one way to achieve this goal. We must rededicate ourselves in every way to carry out the mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah and live exemplary ethical lives. The leaders of Israel must also never forget that we are defending ourselves against unspeakable and barbaric terrorism and never be hesitant or apologetic in achieving our goal of bringing peace to Israel and the Middle East.
It’s a big job, but I know we are up to it!
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