LEAD TIDBIT:
Once Upon a Today

Remember Rashi’s comment on BAYOM HAZEH - on THIS day, they came to Midbar Sinai? Shouldn’t the Torah have said, BAYOM HAHU, on THAT day? It comes to teach us that the words of the Torah should be new to you, as if you received them today.

Let’s apply this idea to the beginning of this week’s sedra. Before we do, let’s suggest how three different Jews should react to the words that follow. [1] Jews who live in Eretz Yisrael and are ideologically committed to living in Eretz Yisrael should take the coming words as CHIZUK, intended to strengthen your commit- ment AND to give you something to share with friends and family who don’t yet live here. [2] Jews who don’t yet live in Israel, but want to. Really want to. Believe that this is where Jews should live. But they don’t yet. For you, these words should be IDUD, encouragement. Encouragement to maybe speed up your Aliya plans. At least to meet with good Aliya counselors, talk things over with your children, get a little closer to actualizing what you already believe is the right thing to do. [3] Jews who live in Chutz LaAretz and think that they have everything they need for a complete Jewish life in whatever wonderful Jewish community they live in. The Jews who think those of us who made Aliya are crazy. The ones who think that Israel is a nice place to visit, but who would want to live here. For you, these words are TOCHACHA, reproach, offered lovingly to fellow Jews, with a heartfelt plea not to behave like the Meraglim in the sedra, nor like the people who panicked when they heard the Meraglim talk, nor like the ones who wanted to stone Kalev and Yehoshua, Moshe and Aharon.

The Meraglim of 3314 years ago, and the Meraglim of today say the same things, with slightly different words.

We might even suggest - as long as we’re in the CHIZUK, IDUD, and HOCHACHA modes (as mentioned above), that we today find ourselves in the same position as Bnei Yisrael on that fateful first Tish’a b’Av and face the possibilities of repeating the same mistakes, or getting it right this time. With the stakes on both sides higher than way back then. If we repeat the same mistakes, then perhaps our transgression will be considered even worse than that generation, because we know what happened that first time, and countless times since. Therefore we are forewarned more than DOR HAMIDBAR was. And if we respond in the right way, we will not only be doing what G-d wants of us, but we will hopefully repair the damage of the past. The choice, as it always has been, is ours.