Parashat Shelach contains the story of the 12 spies: one leader from each of the 12 tribes who are sent to check out the land of Canaan. After forty days they return with a very large cluster of grapes (a symbol now used by the Israeli bureau of tourism) and report that the land is indeed flowing with milk and honey, but inhabited by powerful peoples, too strong to overcome. The consensus is that they should not try to enter the land. Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, dissent from this opinion. Angry with their rejection of the holy land, G-d punishes the spies and all those who listened to them.
According to the Ramban, none of the facts that the spies reported were untrue. However, they phrased their report with their own negative bias-in a way that caused the Israelites to panic and lose faith. According to the Talmud, this is the way of all who seek to slander someone. They start off by saying something nice and conclude with something evil. Moreover, the spies' report suggests that even G-d cannot overcome the Canaanites. The sin of the spies is allowing their fear, triggered by what they see in Canaan, to taint their belief in the word of G-d, who has already promised the Israelites that they will inhabit this land.
The parasha also contains the mitzvah of "taking challah." Every time we mix a significant amount of flour (opinions vary but usually at least 3 pounds) and water to make bread, we are required to "set some aside as a gift to the Lord." This portion is called challah. Originally the loaf was given to the Cohanim, but in absence of the Temple, we observe the mitzvah today by burning this portion and rendering it inedible. By consecrating a piece of the bread dough before it is baked/finished, we are reminded that all of our possessions originate with G-d and all of our creations are made possible by the original Creation. However, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik says, the mitzvah also reminds us thatnot everything is handed to us on a silver platter. We must contribute some effort in order to reap the benefits of Creation. This could also be interpreted as the sin of the spies-an unwillingness to put in the effort necessary to actualize G-d's word and to work to claim the land promised them.
Shelach starts out with the commandment "Send men to scout (v'yaturu) the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelite people," and ends with what is now used as the third paragraph of the Sh'ma, the commandment to wear tzitzit. We are told, "look at it (the tzitzit) and remember all the commandments of the Lord and observe them so that you do not follow (v'lo taturu) after your heart and eyes in your lustful urge. The same word, tur: to scout or tour or follow, is used in both places. The Torah is telling us that the tzitzit are a physical reminder not to succumb to the sins of spies. Rashi says, "The heart and eyes are the spies for the body. They are its agents for sinning: the eye sees, the heart covets and the body commits the transgression." In the Talmud (Bavli Menachot 43b), Rabbi Meir interprets the phrase "look at it (u'reitem oto) to mean "look at Him." Thus, when one fulfills the mitzvah of tzitzit, it is as if one is in the Divine Presence.
The mitzvot of challah and tzitzit are not incumbent on the Israelites until they enter the land of Israel. These mitzvot can be viewed as a promise to the Jewish people that despite the transgressions of the spies and the subsequent punishment (continued wandering for 40 years), ultimately they will enter the land. G-d's forgiveness is explicit, saying "I pardon as you have asked (slachti kidvarecha-a phrase quoted in the liturgy on Kol Nidre)." May it continue to be so.
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