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</style><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">This week's portion/<i>parashah</i> is <i>Shelah-Lekha</i> (<i>Be'midbar</i>/Numbers 13:1-15:41). In this <i>parashah</i>, Moses, at God's command, chooses one leader from each of the twelve tribes to serve as spies. Their mission is to enter the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, and bring back a report to the people. "See what kind of country it is.....investigate its cities, people, soil, and forests and] bring back some of the fruit of the land,” they are told. They do bring back grapes and other fruits, but ten of the twelve spies also bring back a report that, though the land is flowing "with milk and honey," it is filled with large fortified cities, "giants," and other dangerous inhabitants. Only two of the spies, <i>Yehoashua</i>/Joshua and <i>Calev</i>/Caleb, bring back a positive report and remind the people that God is with them, and so they can overcome any obstacle or enemy. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Unfortunately, the people are carried away by the negative report of the majority and wonder if Moses brought them this far out of Egypt only to die in the desert. As punishment for following the negative report of the ten spies, God declares that the Israelites will wander in the desert for forty years until this generation of adults dies. Joshua and Caleb will be the only ones of that generation allowed to enter the land.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This poem is based this on the names of the two spies who were allowed to enter the land because they brought back a positive report. The first is <i>Yehoshua</i>/Joshua, who is to become Moses successor, and whose name means salvation. The second is <i>Calev</i>/Caleb, whose name can be translated as "like a heart.” I believe the rest speaks for itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><i><b>the heart of salvation</b></i><o:p></o:p></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
yehoshua calev<br />
salvation like a heart<br />
that is us<br />
we are one<br />
the two<br />
who survived<br />
the two<br />
who saw and understood<br />
the truth<br />
the land<br />
flowing with milk and honey<br />
blessed by God<br />
waiting for us<br />
to be ready<br />
to enter<br />
<br />
the others could not see<br />
their hearts closed<br />
salvation impossible<br />
instead they saw<br />
giants danger obstacles<br />
they saw themselves<br />
grasshoppers<br />
ripe for destruction<br />
<br />
sometimes I wonder<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">did we really travel the same land<br />
<br />
walking the land<br />
we saw the same beauty<br />
we saw the same abundance<br />
we ate the same fruit<br />
we returned carried the same gifts<br />
<br />
in the moment<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> we returned<br />
they forgot<br />
all they had seen<br />
they built a wall<br />
around their heart<br />
hardened themselves<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> unable to remember<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> the beauty and joy<br />
in the moment <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> feeling only fear and trepidation<br />
unable to trust God <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">within themselves<br />
divinity<br />
<br />
they did not believe in<br />
salvation<br />
they could only believe in<br />
giants<br />
they could not trust<br />
God<br />
they could only trust<br />
the small mind of the ego<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
only able to see themselves<br />
as grasshoppers<br />
ego created within the mind<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">the others <br />
creatures who never saw us<br />
yet imagining they would destroy us<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">the ego-mind creates<br />
visions<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> images<br />
that destroy<br />
reality<br />
hope<br />
belief<br />
dreams<br />
<br />
the ego-mind creates<br />
thoughts<br />
that build walls<br />
around the heart<br />
keeping God out<br />
fear in<br />
salvation at bay<br />
<br />
the other ten<br />
are now gone<br />
killed by the plague<br />
their fears come to fruition<br />
but the damage has been done<br />
the people are doomed<br />
never to enter the land<br />
never to achieve full salvation<br />
<br />
but not so the children<br />
they are blessed<br />
they can begin again<br />
they can reclaim the land<br />
reclaim true divine heritage<br />
of beauty and faith<br />
of belief in truth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> in God<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> in the One<br />
<br />
together<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">as One<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">yehoshua calev<br />
salvation like a heart<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">the heart and salvation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">of the Divine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">shall lead them<br />
to a place they cannot know<br />
a place where they can<br />
grow<br />
live<br />
be truly free<br />
<br />
it is the same place<br />
their fathers saw<br />
but did not see<br />
the same place<br />
that was their death<br />
will be their children's<br />
life and salvation<br />
<br />
yehoshua calev<br />
I will be sure<br />
that they see <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">with their hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">with their souls<br />
open to all<br />
the truths<br />
the possibilities<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">in each moment of being<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">of recognizing the One<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">supporting and connecting us all<br />
<br />
they may still see themselves<br />
like grasshoppers<br />
but they will realize<br />
that does not mean<br />
that they are doomed<br />
they can still escape<br />
finding freedom and salvation<br />
if they remain open <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> to the truth of the moment<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
for them milk and honey will flow<br />
in the land<br />
from their lips<br />
from their hearts<br />
enabling all to embrace<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> land each other God<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> One<br />
<br />
<br />
together as One<br />
we will banish the giants<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> created by the ego-mind<br />
creating in its place a home<br />
land within the heart and soul<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> filled with peace<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> source of salvation<br />
for all who dwell within<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">this we will do together<br />
in remembrance<br />
of all those who came before<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> those who still are<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> those who will be<br />
unable to see the truth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> the One<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> unable to experience<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> the heart of salvation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> within all<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>
<br><br>--<br>
Posted By Rabbi Steven Nathan to <a href="http://mindfultorah.blogspot.com/2010/06/poetic-commentary-on-parshat-shelah.html">Mindful Torah</a> at 6/04/2010 03:50:00 PM