Weekly Parsha

This weekly study is dedicated to the "Refuah Shleima" (speedy recovery) of Rabbi Tank's uncle "Sebastian - Shabatai ben Tova". The name "Sebastian-Shabatai" is a very special Jewish name for boys born on Shabbat to remind the family to keep the commandments. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)

Oh Almighty G-d Trustworthy Healer, please send healing, cure, and remedy, with abundant kindness, graciousness, and compassion to Shabatai ben Tova. Restore her spirit and soul. May You be filled with mercy for her to restore her to health, to cure, strengthen, and revitalize her as is the wish of all for her relatives and loved ones. May You send her a complete recovery, a spiritual recovery, and a physical recovery. Amen!

Prayer List

May G-d deliver us from this crisis speedily and grant a complete recovery to those who are ill, Amen!

"Shlomo Tamas ben Sarah"
"Rafael Pinchas ben Chaya Rivka"
"Malka Batya bas Tova"
"Shabatai (Sebastian) ben Tova"
"Adira (Heidi) bas Sarah"

***

Numbers 13:1 - 15:41

The "Parashah" (portion) Shelach or Shelach Lecha (שְׁלַח or שְׁלַח-לְךָ) means "send", "send to you", or "send for yourself")

The "Parashah" (portion) tells the story of the twelve spies sent to assess the promised land, commandments about offerings, the story of the Sabbath violator, and the commandment of the fringes (צִיצִת, tzitzit).

The Jewish people received the Torah on Mt. Sinai and were ready to enter the land of Israel. There was a consensus of opinion amongst the people that we should send spies to see if it was feasible to conquer the Land. Moshe knew that the Almighty's promise to give the Land included a guarantee to conquer it. However, one of the principles of life which we learn from this portion is: the Almighty allows each of us the free will to go in the direction we choose. Even though one man and the Almighty is a majority, Moshe by Divine decree, sent out the princes of the tribes (men of the highest caliber) to spy out the land.

Twelve spies were sent. Ten came back with a report of strong fortifications and giants; they rallied the people against going up to the Land. Joshua ben Nun and Calev ben Yefunah (Moshe's brother-in-law) tried to stem the rebellion, but did not succeed. The Almighty decreed 40 years of wandering in the desert, one year for each day they spied in the land of Israel. This happened on the 9th of Av, a date noted throughout Jewish history for tragedy -- the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain amongst them.

* * *

"And the Almighty spoke to Moshe, saying: Send for yourself men, that they may spy out the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Children of Israel; one man, one man of every tribe of their fathers you shall send, every one a prince among them" (Numbers 13:1,2).

The Torah is not written in chronological order. What is the meaning of the juxtaposition of this section to the previous section?

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki from Troyes ("Rashi") cites the "Midrash Tanchuma" to elucidate the juxtaposition of sending the spies to the land of Canaan to the section of Miriam's speaking loshon hora (derogatory speech) about Moshe. Even though Miriam was publicly punished for speaking against her brother, these wicked people who witnessed her punishment did not learn a lesson.

How could the spies be expected to learn from Miriam's "lashon hara"?

Miriam spoke against a person, while they spoke against a land. One must acquire the attribute of always seeing the good in everything. A person who finds fault with things (meals, accommodations. etc.) will also find fault with people. Conversely, a person who always seeks to find the good in all phenomena will also see the good in his fellow man. That is the lesson the spies should have learned: to notice virtues rather than seek out faults.

As a pious man once noted, "We were given two eyes -- one very powerful for introspection, so we should find our smallest faults; the other very weak, for viewing others. Only too often we switch their functions."

Get a life. Live your life.
Stop living other people's life.
Take care of your own business!

When alone -- guard your thoughts.
When at home -- guard your temper.
When with friends -- guard your tongue!

We do not see things as they are,
we see them as we are!

Shabbat Shalom!

Quarantine won't stop our learning

We are excited to announce the American Jewish College FREE Learning Program. Please contact Rabbi Tank WhatsApp number +1 (917) 834-4770 to let him know that you want to join the English, Spanish or Portuguese group.

COVID-19 Kids Activity List

We will be publishing a centralized directory of things to keep your children occupied with as all are currently home without school, and unable to go outside.

There are many Torah learning events, educational online events, entertainment for children, musical live streams etc.

PLEASE SEND ANY ITEMS YOU ARE AWARE OF TO HAVE THEM LISTED HERE TO INFO@BEITCHAI.COM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST

COVID-19 Prayer List

If you have any Tehillim names of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19, please contact Beit Chai with those names to be added to the list.

Do NOT send us names from existing lists, and ONLY send us names you know personally. This is for COVID-19 victims ONLY. 

SEND THE NAMES TO INFO@BEITCHAI.COM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST