Shelach Lechah 2015

Shelach Lechah

Seeking Our Heart

 

There’s a huge relief that happens when we study Shelach Lecha

At least there is for me.

I must deliver a warning by the way. What I’m writing comes from great and ancient rabbis but no one is quoted. I can’t possibly claim this myself.

To continue, a respected rabbi  and scholar (with whom I studied) once revealed a personal struggle he had with a phrase within the Sh’ma (the third part). In it, we are told not to seek our heart. Very odd demand one might think.  I don’t have any answers. This teaching though is seeking to respond to his comment. And to the phrase itself.   

To continue, the relief (for me) ironically happens at the end of the parasha when we get to “study” this same third piece of the Sh’ma and this same phrase. Placed in the familiarity of the Sh’ma (granted at the historical  transmission of Torah this section is equally familiar with the rest but we must overlay temporary customs to reveal temporary meaning) the idea of not seeking “our heart” makes amazing sense in context. Out of context it’s a challenge. What do you mean, we don’t seek our heart, we ask! That goes against the foundation of Judaism!  Within context however the whole horrific scene that just finished is placed within an expansive perspective. In short, the reason why the Israelites are being slammed is not (in part) because they frighten everyone or cling to their fears.  It’s not even because they gossip or murmur. It’s not because they act“against” God.

The reason is because we become non-inclusive. Using modern language, we use diversity to create schism rather than inclusion among all people.

 Please understand that the root word “tor” is used to show the seeking of land within many contexts of Tanach. It is used for the seeking of human (as compared to divine) foundations, and the seeking of a solid place where God can dwell among us. Please understand though that the negative information that the “seekers” reveal is about people. It’s not about weather or hot lava or earthquakes or fire. It’s not about strange animals. It’s not even about land! They twist the meaning of “tor” and use it to focus on people rather than land…and not only that…to segregate.  They confuse their sacred message and gift by placing themselves alongside others and not the land.  Then, they use the differences of other cultures, exaggerate them and turn the people into monsters in order to either run or to find ethical necessity to  fight.

Small detour: I study from the scroll.  When you study from the scroll it’s like you’re there. You’re on the stage and it’s happening now. You might say it’s like a Shakespeare play but it’s more like the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstein are Dead by Stoppard. There, we experience actors who go in and out of the actual characters of the play. We experience “what happens” in the white space of the play itself through the perspectives of two small roles (on and off stage).

Likewise, when we study Torah from the scroll we are going in and out of the experience. We almost become characters in the events. Really  though we know…deep down…that we are in temporary roles and we create (through our very perspective) space to go on and off stage.  It’s a powerful experience.

Back to the parashah: For a quick replay, Moses decides to send the leaders of the tribes to check-out the land they are about to conquer. They have a great time there, collecting the fruit and climbing high to get a complete view. They come back and tell stories about the inhabitants (they are giants etc) and God becomes so furious that Moses can’t stop Him. God decides to kill everyone off before the children can finally see the Promised Land. Hence, the forty years wandering. Note: During the rest of the parashah we are continually reminded that even the foreigner (once we come to the land) must take part in the necessary rites and rituals. 

 So then for a review: We move through a sad and horrific event and then at the end we see (in the Sh’ma) that we are not to “seek out” our heart as we seek out the land.  Note: the same shoresh or root word is used.

My opinion: We don’t confuse that which we seek. The land is the land. It’s the foundation and home of God-on-Earth. The people of the earth are vessels to keep the divine flow in movement. The land is not the people is not the land.  People are to help to bring the earth- foundation to the higher realms and the other way around. If we…as people... seek simply our personal heart and not the community heart of all people…and don’t allow flow then the ultimate merge between God and all people will be a futile attempt. We will be left with land, oh yes. But the people will have destroyed themselves in their hypocrisy.

Here’s a story to lighten the load a bit:

It seems there was a giraffe. He loved his home. He built it to shape his needs. He was very focused on it. It was a very nice home. He had a friend who was an elephant. They were good friends. When the giraffe was going away he invited the elephant to stay there for a vacation. Well, the elephant was very uncomfortable in this home. He really tried to fit and to keep things nice but as he kept moving around one thing after the next was broken. When the giraffe came home he was dismayed.  Why was everything broken? The elephant said that he tried. It was just hard because he could not quite fit. The giraffe thought about this problem. He wanted the elephant to be welcomed again and to feel as if it was his home as well. The giraffe thought and thought. Finally, he said to the elephant: I have just the solution! You can go to the gym down the street every day and work out and then it will all be fine!

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the suggestion is a wee bit skewed.

That phrase at the end of the “Sh’ma” is simply a warning not to make a similar suggestion. It’s that simple. In short the land…and our home…is great…but not if our “seeking”  is within a land or home archetype  that finally  turns our neighbors into giants…or tries to make an elephant into a giraffe!

Long explanation. But it’s so simple.