Parsha Summary This week's parsha , Sh’lach , recounts a pivotal story in the Jewish People's journey through the desert. As the Jewish People prepare to enter the Land of Israel, they send twelve eminent leaders to survey the Promised Land, ten of whom return with a negative report. Caleb and Joshua are the only ones who speak well of the land. The Jewish People accept only the bad news and cry and complain hysterically through the night. G-d threatens to annihilate the Jewish People, at which point Moshe intercedes and pleads successfully that they not be totally eliminated. G-d decrees that they still be punished for their sin regarding the slander of the Land of Israel by wandering for forty years in the desert, during which time the entire generation would die before reaching the borders of the Promised Land. As a sign that the Jews will eventually enter the land after forty years, the Torah details laws that take effect only after the Jews live in the Land of Israel, such as challah, taking off a portion of dough and giving it to the kohen (priest). The Torah portion concludes with the third paragraph of the Shema prayer, containing the mitzvah to wear tzitzis, a fringed garment . Same Facts, Different Stories Facts tell a story, but perceptions shape the details. Two people can witness the same episode, get the facts straight and yet tell two distinct stories of what transpired. For example, people may observe a pair engaging in an argument, with Person A clearly having the upper hand. One witness may feel that A is an aggressive antagonist, browbeating the other; the other witness may understand that B is just receiving his comeuppance, since he knows of the prior history between the two. Diverging perceptions play an important role in this week’s Torah portion, where we read of the spies’ report on the Land of Israel. Moshe had sent them to scout the land. They saw things taking place that were seemingly out of the ordinary. They witnessed a lot of funerals. They saw huge fruits. There were different ways to interpret these events, and they chose to slant their narrative to alarm the Jewish People. The spies were men of great standing; that is precisely why they were chosen for this mission. Their job was to report on the greatness of the land, and how G-d would take care of His nation there. However, they decided to return with a negative report, replete with extreme examples of the unusual events that they had observed. With regard to the funerals they had seen, they reported that the land was somehow inherently dangerous, as an inordinate number of people died there. Yet Rashi points out that many people died during this time as part of a Divine plan to help the Jewish people, to distract the locals from seeing the spies wandering about. The spies used the huge fruits allegorically, implying that just as the fruits were unusual, so were the people of the land. Yet the lush fruits were actually a sign of the tremendous blessing that exists in the Land of Israel. The spies saw the facts and chose to interpret them in a way that fit the narrative they wished to tell. We live in a subjective world. We’re ingrained with certain predispositions and can’t resist “adjusting” the facts to suit our story. It’s easy and convenient. The kuntz, trick, is to try to adopt a more neutral stance,, considering from all points of view before rendering an opinion. Shabbos Deal Lakewood Phila Marlboro Cherry Hill East Brunswick N.Y. City Richboro Fair Lawn 6/20/08 Candle lighting 8:11 8:11 8:14 8:12 8:14 8:13 8:12 8:14 8:13 6/21/08 Shabbat ends 9:29 9:29 9:32 9:30 9:32 9:31 9:30 9:33 9:32 Dedication Opportunities $54 - weekly dedication¨$150 - 4 consecutive weekly¨$72 Phone: 888-374-2870 ext. 11  ¨ E-mail: mail@torahlinks.org Torah Links is a Jewish learning organization, which offers educational and social programs to Jews of all affiliations in a warm and inviting environment. Please contact us for the site nearest you! Phone (732) 367-0600, (888) 374-2870 ¨ E-mail: mail@torahlinks.org