Might TT be a Tikun for Cheit HaM'raglim?

We don't mean to sound presumptuous - really we don't - but in a big way, we try to be just that. Readers seem to notice how often the Lead Tidbit comes around to the theme of Eretz Yisrael being THE venue that G-d intended and intends for His people. Features like CHIZUK & IDUD go there every time without fail. And, we think it no coincidence that we happened to begin publishing Torah Tidbits 16 years ago this week, for Shabbat Parshat SH'LACH, the sedra that shows us the devastating effect that the wrong attitude about living in Israel can have.

Each year as we prepare the anniversary issue, the possibility of not writing the Lead Tidbit about the Meraglim and the powerful message from their episode is mulled over.

And rejected. It's not possible. Not for Sh'lach. The Torah is shouting a message at us, so clearly, that you can see Kalev and Yehoshua and Moshe Rabeinu shaking their head in continuing disbelief that the Meraglim seem to alive and well in the Jewish world of the 58th century. (Remember that the 58th century since Creation spans the 20th and 21st centuries of the Common Era.)

This issue of TT is the 17th one for Sh'lach and the number of times we've tried to make the point that living in Israel is essential to G-d's Plan for His Nation is far greater than 17. And each time, we try to say it in a different way. Maybe one way will hit home with the person who needs the message.

Try this: When a generally observant Jew reads/listens the Torah, he reacts positively to ZACHOR ET YOM HASHABBAT L'KAD'SHO, remember the Shabbat, etc. And he reacts negatively to this week's episode of the "wood gatherer". He neither admires nor emulates the M'koshesh Eitzim (Tz'lofchad, according to Tradition).

How does (should) this same basically observant Jew react to the passages in the Torah that speak of G-d's "desire" that we follow His Torah and be faithful to Him in Eretz Yisrael? How does he react to the episode of the M'raglim (also from this week's sedra, of course)? Is he as appalled at the behavior of the 10 M'raglim as he is about the Shabbat desecrater or the one who "blessed" G-d's name? Does he admire Kalev who risked his life to passionately plead with the people to listen to G-d? And who does he emulate: Nachbi b. Vofsi or Kalev b. Yefuneh?

To clarify the intent of this Lead Tidbit: We are talking mostly about attitude and reaction, resolve and commitment - not actually living in Israel, even though that is the ideal and the goal. From a very practical perspective, as we've often mentioned, many Jews have reasons for not being able to make Aliya at a particular point in their lives. It could be family considerations such as elderly parents or it could be parnasa issues, just to name two. Just because a Jew does not at this moment live in Israel does not make him a Palti or a Gadi'eil. And living in Israel does not automatically make one a Kalev-type.

Attitude. Does one feel, believe, know that Eretz Yisrael is THE place to live a Torah life? Or does one think it crazy to even contemplate Aliya? One will most often end up in the direction in which he is pointing. Even if it takes time to get there.

What is the TIKUN for Cheit HaMeraglim? According to the ARI Z"L, it's the mitzva of Bikurim. That was the focus of the first Lead Tidbit 16 years ago this week. You can find further details on pages 4 and 5. Is Torah Tidbits also a Tikun? We hope so. We try hard. We try to echo over and over again the words of Kalev. And we try to do our share towards the goal of the Israel Center and OU Israel, of which we are a proud part - To encourage Aliya and facilitate Klita; to help strengthen the bond of the Jew with his Torah, with his Land, and with his fellow Jews.

One final word (for now) on Bikurim as a Tikun. Bikurim is not just a mitzva. Not just a Land-related mitzva. And not just one that carries with it a verbal declaration in addition to action. It is all that... and this: Bikurim requires being in Eretz Yisrael and having a Beit HaMikdash. That implies having repaired all of the causes of the destructions of the two previous Batei Mikdash. That implies having high standards of Torah observance on the G-d-Jew level and on the interpersonal level. Bikurim represents the ideal of a Torah way of life. If we in some way can bring Jews who are far from Torah close to it and those who are already close, even closer; if we work hard in bringing us closer to the Geula Sh'leima... then the ultimate TIKUN of the sin of the spies and the sin of the Golden Calf, and a multitude of other sins throughout Jewish History - of the whole world will be within our grasp. May HaShem help us succeed in the best possible way.

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