For the week of Friday, June 28, 2024

In last week’s Torah reading, our people began their trek to the promised land. In this portion, they are on the edge of the wilderness, ready to enter Canaan. God tells Moses to send out a scouting party to reconnoiter the land, and bring back a detailed report. Ten leaders are chosen, and as they return, only two of the scouts see a promise in conquering the land. The ten scouts produce a negative report, and claim the inhabitants are “giants.” Thus when the Almighty hears this response, the Israelites are sent back into the desert to wander for another thirty-eight years. 

Our Torah portion contains some important texts that give rise to certain well known Jewish usages: The word “minyan,” meaning quorum is mentioned in Numbers 14; the text says “how long shall I bear with this evil congregation,” and this term for congregation refers to the ten scouts. Also we find the words for the “tallit,” prayer-shawl, are part of the story in Numbers 15: 37-41. The people are commanded to sew onto the four corners of their garments a blue thread of wool which will serve to remind them of God’s mitzvot. When our people stopped wearing four-cornered type clothes, they used the stole-like ‘tallit’ on which the exact commandment could be attached and fulfilled.  

Join us for an exciting Torah discussion this Shabbat morning