Parashat Shelah tells the story of חטא המרגלים – the sin of the spies. Moshe sent twelve men to see the Land of Israel before Beneh Yisrael were supposed to enter, and ten of them came back with a negative, frightening report, to the point where the people decided they did not want to go into the Land of Israel. Hashem killed the ten spies, and decreed that the nation would remain in the desert for forty years.
These ten spies described the Land of Israel as ארץ אוכלת יושביה – “a land that consumes its inhabitants,” where it’s hard to survive. Yet, they also said that the people who live there were אנשי מידות – big and powerful. Not only did they lie by saying that the land “consumes its inhabitants,” but they also contradicted themselves in the same sentence – by saying that all the people there are healthy and strong.
They also went so far as to say that they saw ילידי הענק – giants who were so tall that they blocked the sun. Obviously, this is an exaggeration.
This is how the spies succeeded in sowing mass hysteria – through misinformation and exaggeration, making even contradictory statements that sounded scary.
The modern-day equivalent of what the spies did is social media. Anti-Semites spew all kinds of lies and exaggerations about what goes on in Israel in order to arouse hatred toward Jews. This has always happened, but social media has allowed this industry of lies to explode. People all over the world are told every day that Israel is going around killing innocent Palestinian children and committing all kinds of atrocities, when in truth, Israel is simply trying to defend its citizens. Like the spies, who managed to convince Beneh Yisrael that the land is a terrible and dangerous place to live, the anti-Semites are succeeding in misleading people to think that Israel and the Jews are evil.
From this parashah we can learn how to respond to this wave of lies and misinformation.
Two of the spies – Yehoshua and Kalev – opposed the other ten, and insisted that the land is good, and that Hashem would help them conquer it. Hashem later told Moshe that Yehoshua and Kalev would receive great reward for opposing the other spies. Even though their efforts were not successful, and the nation followed the other ten spies, for which they were punished, nevertheless, Yehoshua and Kalev were rewarded. Rav Moshe Feinstein learns from this reward that there is value in expressing the truth even if people do not accept it. We have to make our voices heard, even if our voices will be drowned out by the majority.
In the face of rampant anti-Semitism and the torrent of lies being spread, we need to write to our politicians and make our voices heard in support of Israel. Even if our voices will be drowned out, it is critically important to speak out.
Additionally, the Torah tells that as Yehoshua and Kalev argued with the other spies, and expressed the view that they could capture the land, the people prepared to stone them to death. But just then, וכבוד ה' נראה באוהל מועד אל כל בני ישראל – Hashem’s glory appeared, protecting Yehoshua and Kalev.
When we or our fellow Jews are in danger, we need to place our faith in Hashem. Ultimately, it is He who protects us.
For a believing Jew, his most vulnerable moment is his most powerful moment. Because when he feels vulnerable, he turns to Hashem and pleads for help. This is true when it comes to our health, our finances, and all other personal needs – and it is true no less when it comes to our nation’s safety.
We need to do what we can do, making our voices heard, and then do what we always do when we need assistance – turn to Hashem in prayer, trusting in His protection. As the world becomes scarier, we draw confidence from our emunah, our faith in Hashem, and our belief in the power of our tefilot.