FOR SH'LACH
LIGHTING A FIRE
The story is told about the Rabbi who was finally able to get away from his many obligations and commitments to visit his star pupil, himself also now a rabbi. The Rabbi knew that his student had moved to a location quite distant – both materially and spiritually – from his previous location.
After spending some time at his student’s home, the Rabbi observed that the religious devotion and commitment of his student was quite impressive. “It is nice to see,” commented the Rabbi, “that you are able to maintain a high level of piety just like the old days, although the environment where you presently live is not necessarily conducive to your spiritual lifestyle.”
Flattered, the student exclaimed, “You have taught me well. I learned from you how to immerse myself into my Torah studies, my prayers, and my observance of the Torah’s commandments. These keep me in the warmth and spirit of our holy religion. All activities contrary to piety do not phase me.”
Noticing the way the student had secluded himself within his new home, the Rabbi retorted, “When it is very cold, two ways exist to make it warm. One is by putting on a coat; the other is by lighting a fire. The difference is that the coat warms only the person wearing it, while the warmth of the fire benefits everyone that comes near it. What is more: the kindling of a fire provides warmth automatically, without any extra effort, for all those close enough.”
When a person is motivated to follow a lifestyle based on religion, it indicates a strong conviction towards the truth. It follows, therefore, how beneficial this could be for others to notice, and hopefully to learn. Only in rare circumstances would it be necessary for the person to become insulated due to material or spiritual pressures or dangers.
The aforementioned helps explain an unusual exchange between the Almighty and the Jewish people in this week’s Torah portion, “Sh’lach. The bulk of the portion details the tragic story of the twelve scouts representing the Jewish people on the threshold of entering the Holy Land. These individuals were chosen to scout the Land and bring back a report. Their report was not merely uncomplimentary about the Land, but it contained an uncompromisingly pessimistic statement: “We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than us.” (B’midbar (Numbers) 13:31.)
This destructive report terrified the people. They lamented and cried that night: “If only we had died in Egypt, or in this desert! Why is G-d bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and small children will be disgraced into captivity!” (14:2-3.)
It is deeply puzzling how those scouts, handpicked by Moses as worthwhile emissaries, would not merely lose faith, but succeed in enflaming the aggregate Jewish people, leading to crying for no reason. Those same people dined, that very day, on bread provided to them from heaven (Manna); drank water supplied by a rock; while protected from the harsh elements of the desert by clouds – all miraculous, daily events.
With all that, the false worrying about their children being disgraced into captivity was particularly singled out by the Almighty. Twice, the Torah records the Almighty’s response to this emotional and nonsensical grievance: “For your small children, of whom you said they will become disgraced captives, I will bring them there, and they will come to know the land which you despised.” (14:31.) Elsewhere, the Torah states: “Your small children, about whom you said they will be taken as captives… they will come there to the Land, and I will give it to them to inherit.” (D’varim (Deuteronomy) 1:39.)
Referencing the young children in the complaint, coupled with the response from the Almighty recorded twice in the Torah, is reminiscent of a previous mention in the Torah of young children. When the family of Jacob originally descended from the Land of Israel to Egypt due to a famine, Joseph, who at that time was running the affairs of the country, supplied them with all their needs. When detailed in the Torah, it states: “Joseph sustained his… father’s entire household bread according to the young children.” (B’raishis (Genesis) 47:12.) This reference to young children is, as the Sages explain, because young children need to be given extra food, as they waste so much.
The connection between these two otherwise unrelated stories is profound. It also explains the thinking of the Jewish people at that time, and provides an important message for all. In the desert, the Jewish people were living in a bubble of transcendent consecration. To tear themselves away from this idyllic, heavenly eminence, even if the destination was a Land called “holy,” would have been too great a test. A land would, after all, require construction, plowing and sowing fields, gathering crops, selling food, and all other distractions that are inevitable.
Their spirituality, under these circumstances, would have been sporadic. Most of what they were currently experiencing would have fallen to waste, similar to what a young toddler does in and under his or her high chair. Most of the food ends up in the trash. Being surrounded by spirituality, with the majority of it not being “ingested” and internalized, would be a terrible shame and waste.
Their concerns had some merit, yet they were wrong. Parents do not stop feeding their toddlers just because much of the food is discarded. This, in fact, is the way the toddler learns how to eat. Similarly, the Almighty responded by stating that their children, who would enter the land and inherit it, would be the ones to continue both the religion and the legacy of the Jewish people.
And they would do so, indeed, by working the land. They would invest blood, sweat and tears, while, at the same time, taking time to study, to pray, and to perform good deeds. The time spent on balancing a tough world with a commitment to what is good and sacred is more precious and impressive than a lifetime of living in a bubble, however holy.
For lighting a fire is not merely making it warm for all surroundings. It also brings a powerful attractive light to the world.
SUMMARY: Lighting a fire allows a person to provide warmth and light to everyone around.