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by Rabbi Tuvia Bolton, Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim, Kfar Chabad, Israel

This week, we read the strange and sad story of one of the biggest failures in history. After suffering over two hundred years in Egyptian slavery with only one hope: to be free and enter the land promised them by G-d to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses even sent scouts to survey the land and return with glowing reports. But the scouts returned and convinced them to remain in the desert!!

The Jews refused to enter the Holy Land!!

Only 40 years later, after all of these refusers died in the desert, did they finally cross the Jordan River into ‘Canaan’…. but without Moses.  Joshua took them in.

Why is this story in the Torah?

Torah means ‘teaching. The Torah and every word and idea therein instructs us to be better, more positive and more productive human beings.
But this story seems to broadcast the opposite: If the generation that ‘saw’ G-d and experienced His miracles constantly were afraid to do such a simple, holy thing as enter Israel, then what chance or reason do we have to think positively and overcome our ‘real’ obstacles?

To understand this here is a story

200 years ago Germany was a place of flourishing Judaism. Despite the inroads of the Reform movement hundreds of thousands of G-d fearing Jews faithfully learned and kept the Torah of their fathers.

One of these Jews, who we will call Mr. Deutch (although his name was not mentioned in the story), was wealthy but had a big problem. His 12-year-old son was deaf and mute; he had not spoken or heard a word since birth, could not read or write and apparently was doomed to a life of ignorance and silence.

Not lacking money, he took the boy to the greatest specialists and professors available but they all concluded that although the lad seemed to be intelligent, he couldn’t be cured and would never be able to learn anything but simple tasks.

Then a strange rumor reached Mr. Deutch’s ears; someone told him that in Poland there were Jews called Chassidim that had leaders called Rebbes and these Rebbes did miracles like …… healing the sick.

At first, he didn’t believe it; Miracles? Things like that only happened in the Bible, thousands of years ago by Elijah the prophet. But now!? In the 18th century?! Out of the question!

He also heard that these ‘Chassidim’ stressed joy and enthusiasm. In Germany all this was totally unheard of! Judaism was a serious business!

But as he made more inquires and heard more details, he began to get interested. People were saying that there was a Jew called Rabbi Yissacher Dov of Radoshitz nicknamed the ‘Saba Kadisha’ (holy grandfather) who was a genius in Torah, knew all the books, had thousands of pupils and people came to him with their problems from all over Europe.

And he did miracles!

Mr. Deutch thought it and finally decided to give it a try. He filled a briefcase with money, packed his bags, got into his fancy carriage with his son and a few days later they were standing in the Synagogue of the “Holy Saba of Radoshitz” waiting to be called for an audience.

The Rabbi’s door opened, a strikingly impressive Jew came out, introduced himself as Shlomo of Radomsk, a pupil of the holy Rabbi (in time, this Rabbi Shlomo would also become a holy Rebbe with thousands of followers of his own) and told them to enter the Rebbe’s room.

Mr. Deutch entered with his son and was struck by the holiness of the old Rabbi sitting before him. Mr. Deutch, knowing that this was his last hope, began weeping as he explained his problem and with tears running down his face, and concluded with a promise from the depths of his broken heart, “Rebbe, Here is a briefcase full of money. Take it! Please heal my son! If you succeed, I’m willing to give you everything I own! Everything! Cure him and I’ll sign over to you all the rest!”

With this he burst out into uncontrollable weeping while his son just looked on blankly, silently with a slightly perplexed look on his face.

The Rebbe of Radoshitz looked at him for a few seconds, nodded his head in agreement and said,

“Listen, my friend. I will make you a deal. Keep your money. All your riches can remain in your hands. You don’t have to give me even one penny. You can continue being a businessman, invest your money and continue doing good deeds. Your money won’t help. All I want is a promise.”

Mr. Deutch was all ears. Promise? He leaned forward expecting to hear a complicated message. The Rebbe continued.

“I want to promise that from this moment you won’t cut your beard, not even trim it, and let your payos (hair on the sides of the head) grow from now on.”

At first Mr. Deutch didn’t understand. The Rebbe didn’t want his money? He was ready to pay a lot of money…. ALL his money. What possible good could come from a beard? Exactly the opposite! In Germany no one had a beard! Only some top Rabbis had a neatly trimmed goatee Top priority was given to being clean and neat. A full beard (and especially with payos) was primitive and….. ugly!! He would be ostracized!

‘Please Rabbi” gasped Mr. Deutch as he leaned forward and almost whispered to the Rebbe. Anything but that! I’m prepared to give you all my belongings; everything I have in the world! Rabbi, think of the charity and good deeds you could do with all that money. It’s more than you think Rabbi. I’m talking about millions of marks! Please reconsider! This people would understand. But a beard I cannot do! How could I show my face before my family and friends? I am the head of the Jewish community of my city! I would be looked at like a madman.”

The Rabbi looked at him with soft eyes and answered. “If you truly want your son to be healed then you must do as I say. The decision is in your hands.”

After a few moments of painful contemplation Mr. Deutch shook his head in agreement, lovingly stroked his son’s hair, and announced emotionally that he was prepared to follow the Rebbe’s orders.

But he begged to be given just two more weeks. In two weeks would be the wedding of his niece. After the wedding he would grow the beard and payos and before the wedding he would prepare everyone and explain the change.

The Rebbi gave him an understanding look, that perhaps he would agree to such a reasonable request….. but replied.

“No my friend, you must begin today. If you don’t, I cannot help you.”

Mr. Deutch closed his eyes and it was obvious that an inner battle was raging in his heart. Tears came from his eyes. He wiped them off, took out a handkerchief blew his nose, stood straight and said quietly but assertively.

“Yes Rabbi, I will do as you say. From now on, beginning today, I’ll not touch the beard or the side locks.”

The Rebbe smiled, nodded, shook Mr. Deutch’s hand and invited him to join him and his Chassidim (followers) at his Shabbat table the next evening.

The word spread like fire and on Shabbat evening (Shabbat and the holidays begin at sunset) every male in Radoshitz was crowded in the large room around the hundred or so Chassidim sitting around the well supplied and decorated table.

The Rebbe sat at the head of the table, his pupil Shlomo of Radomsk at his right, a slightly unshaven Mr. Deutch and son sat next to him and hundreds of others waited for the Rebbe to fill his cup with wine and make the blessing over the wine to begin the meal.

The Rebbe closed his eyes while the hundreds of Chassidim sang a beautiful soulful song. It was as though the room had been transported to another world. Suddenly he opened his eyes motioned for one of the Chassidim to pour him wine, lifted the full silver cup slowly, stood, said the ‘Kiddush’ praising G-d for giving the Holy Shabbat and then sat and drank half of its contents.

The crowd was silent as the Rebbe motioned to the boy to stand and approach. The boy stood slowly and when he reached the Rebbe you could hear a pin drop. The Rebbe told Shlomo of Radomsk, to hold the cup with him, together they put it up to the child’s lips and he said quietly,

“Now my son, make a blessing on the wine.”

The boy hesitated for a moment, looked intently at the wine in the cup, cleared his throat and then said in shaky high-pitched voice,

“Boruch…… ataw…… Melech… HaOlom…. Borei… Pri HaGefen” and took a sip.

Mr. Deutch, eyes wide in disbelief, began to laugh and cry alternately. He stood, then sat, shook hands and hugged everyone around him especially his son, everyone except the Rebbe. The Chassidim broke into joyous song and Mr. Deutch danced before all of them, raising his hands to the heavens and yelling “Danks Got” and kissing his son over and over again.

Finally, when the confusion died down and Mr. Deutch caught his breath he stood on a chair and announced.

“Today everyone made a big profit: I kept my money and got a talking son” one of the Chassidim added “and a beard with payos!” Everyone laughed.

He continued, “My son got his hearing and speaking!” Everyone clapped.

“But the Rebbe also got something… He now has ….Me! Till today I was deaf too. I was deaf to the joy of being a Jew, of being a Chassid but it’s never too late to start hearing.”

This answers our question; why didn’t the Jews enter the Holy Land?

The reason that the Jews were afraid to enter Israel was basically the same reason that Mr. Deutch was afraid to grow a beard; it was totally unfamiliar. People love security; they love to be certain about the future and to be in control of the present. And so did the Jews in the desert.

In the desert the Jews were secure. G-d provided them with food, protection, clothing and … Judaism. They could learn Torah, pray, praise G-d and feel Jewish uninterruptedly.  It was heaven on earth. But G-d wanted something more from them. He wanted them to do something no one had ever even imagined possible: to first experience G-d revealed (at Sinai and in the desert) and then use that experience to transform the entire PHYSICAL world into a Holy Temple.

Just as Mr. Deutch in our story totally transformed himself and brought miracles, so did the generation that actually entered Israel with Joshua.

They totally left their ‘comfort zone’ and become partners with G-d to miraculously change the physical world.

This is very relevant to us today; the Lubavitcher Rebbe said countless times that ours is the generation of Moshiach.

Moshiach will be a leader exactly like Moses, who will bring all mankind to be partners with the Creator and perfect the world with G-d’s Torah.

That is the lesson from this week’s Torah portion: Avoid the security attitude of the ‘Spies’. We need not spend our energy trying to continue the past rather we must create a new future. Then Moshiach will bring a new heavens and earth.

And, as the Rebbe said repeatedly; this should happen at any moment. We are standing on the merits of thousands of years of Jewish service, hopes, prayers and suffering. It all depends on us! Just one more good deed, word or even good thought, can bring …….

Moshiach NOW!!

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