21 Jun KALEV AND YEHOSHUA TRUSTED IN HASHEM
The Torah lists
the names of the
twelve meraglim.
The Ramban
(13:4) seeks to
understand the
order that they
are listed. He writes, “They are not listed
according to their flags… and not in the
order they were born. I think the Torah
lists them according to their levels,
because they were nesi’im, and each was
at a different rank and level. Some were
greater than others in wisdom or honor,
and the Torah lists them according to
their level.” Kalev is listed third, and
Yehoshua is listed fifth. This means that,
initially, they weren’t the greatest among
the group. There were greater people
than them. Yet only Kalev and
Yehoshua passed the test. The Imrei
Emes zt’l explains that Kalev and
Yehoshua passed the test because they
were humble, and they didn’t think they
can pass this test on their own.
Therefore, they placed their trust in
Hashem, and this saved them. As
Targum Yonoson – ,writes)
16:13( – –
– ,When Moshe saw
Yehoshua’s humility…” Also, Kalev
was humble and was scared he will not
be able to pass the test. As Chazal
(Sotah 34:) tell us, Kalev went to
, and he davened at the kivrei
Avos to be saved from this sin. They
trusted in Hashem to save them from
sin, and they didn’t rely on their
strength and greatness. Therefore,
Kalev and Yehoshua passed this test.
The other meraglim were also
tzaddikim, initially, but they felt that
they could conquer all temptations,
yetzer haras, and tests on their own.
They didn’t rely on Hashem to save
them, and that was the root of their
downfall. Siyata d’Shmaya for the
Mitzvos -Shelach The Ponovitzer Rav
zt’l traveled to the Chofetz Chaim zt’l in
Radin. The Ponovitzer Rav intended it
to be a short visit because he a train to
catch. But the Chofetz Chaim spoke to
him for a very long time, and he missed
the train. Later, the Ponovitzer Rav
heard that the train he hoped to catch
had derailed, and many people died.
The Ponovitzer Rav said, “It wasn’t that
the Chofetz Chaim knew with ruach
hakodesh that the train would derail.
Rather Hashem places into the mouth
of an ehrlicher Yid the words he should
say, at the right time.” The holy
Chofetz Chaim yearned with all his
heart to serve Hashem and say the right
things to help others. Therefore,
Hashem always helped him say
the right words. Because when a
person truly desires to do
Hashem’s will, Hashem directs
him and helps him succeed with
his ambitions. Once, the Chofetz
Chaim asked the Ponovitzer Rav,
“How many hours of Torah did
you study today? Two hours?
Perhaps three hours? I studied for
hundreds of hours today. Because
I have a yeshiva, where many
bachurim study Torah! I have a
portion in their Torah study, so it
is as if I studied for hundreds of
hours!” At that time, the
Ponovitzer Rav was considering
closing his yeshiva due to
financial hardships. This
conversation encouraged him to
keep the yeshiva open, despite
the difficulties entailed.
Don’t Get Sidetracked
Time is precious. Every moment,
we can earn so much. We just
have to be cautious not to get
sidetracked from all the things
happening around us and to focus
on the purpose – Torah and
mitzvos. The Chofetz Chaim zt’l
told the following mashal: A
simple farmer saved the king’s
life. To reward him, the king
granted the farmer permission to
enter his treasury for one hour
and take whatever he desires. As
the day of the reward got closer,
the king began worrying that the
farmer will grab
too much. The
king made some
inquiries and
found out which
foods the farmer
liked and the
type of music he
enjoyed listening
to. The king set
up a food stand
near the treasury entrance, with a
beautiful and lavish display of the
farmer’s favorite foods. A band was
also there, playing the farmer’s favorite
music. The farmer couldn’t resist
partaking in the food, and he also spent
some time watching the band play his
favorite music. By the time he was
ready to enter the treasury, he shouted
in agony, “Only a few minutes left!”
The hour almost passed, and he hadn’t
yet started collecting his reward. The
nimshal is that people become
occupied in their pursuit of material
pleasures, and they forget to take
advantage of Torah and mitzvos, which
will grant them endless reward.
Someone was waiting for a train in a
Swiss train station. The train arrived,
but he didn’t board it. His friend asked
him, “Why don’t you board the train?”
The man replied, “This train isn’t very
comfortable, but the next train is
luxurious. Every passenger gets his
own table to eat on and a bed to sleep
in… I’m waiting for that train.” “But
that train won’t be here for many
hours.” He replied, “That’s okay. That
train is so comfortable; it’s worth the
wait.” The train finally arrived, and he
boarded it joyously. He enjoyed a good
meal at his table. And then, exhausted
(from waiting in the sun for hours for
the train to arrive), he lay down and
slept for several hours. When he
awoke, he realized he boarded the
wrong train, and he traveled in the
wrong direction! It was almost
Shabbos, so it was too late to seek a
train to bring him home. He didn’t even
have Shabbos clothes to wear, never
mind a place to stay! This happened
because he focused on attaining
physical pleasures that he forgot to
focus on the most essential detail; the
direction the train was headed.
Similarly, in life, we must focus on the
destination, and Torah and mitzvos,
which are the means that will bring us
there. We shouldn’t allow the pleasures
of this world to distract us from our
ultimate goal.