16 Jun Parashat Shelach

The Meraglim Lacked Bitachon 

The Rebbe of Piazescna zt’l teaches, “When a person doesn’t see any opening or path which seem possible using his sechel and according to the rules of nature, that can save him from his troubles and predicaments, he should place his trust in Hashem and increase his emunah and bitachon.” He said this in the Warsaw Ghetto to the people who wanted to escape but didn’t see any way possible to do so. He said, “At times like these, it is better that one shouldn’t seek to save himself via natural means because he probably won’t find them, and then his bitachon will become weaker. Rather, one should say… ‘Hashem is above the laws of nature and He will save me.’” The meraglim (spies) told the Jewish nation that there are giants living in the land of Eretz Yisroel and their cities are heavily fortified. The Yidden understood, correctly, that according to the rules of nature, it was impossible for them to win this war. So, they began to panic. Kalev silenced the nation and told them that Hashem will help them. As it states, Kalev silenced the nation…and said, ‘We will go up. We will inherit the land because we can.’” The Piazescna zt’’l takes note that Kalev didn’t explain to them how they could conquer the land, because he didn’t know. But he was certain that Hashem can do anything. We can therefore trust in Him, and He will save us. The Piazescna zt”l teaches that everyone should think this way. Whenever one finds himself in a difficult situation where a path to salvation seems hopeless, he should tell himself, “Hashem can save me, and He is above the rules of nature. I don’t have to see how. I trust in Him.” It shouldn’t have been hard for the Yidden to believe that Hashem will help them conquer Eretz Yisrael in miraculous ways. It wouldn’t be the first miracle Hashem performed for them. Just a year and five months before,2 Hashem saved them from Mitzrayim with many, wonderous miracles. They lived in the desert where they ate manna that fell from heaven and they drank water that gushed forth from a stone. They were protected by the clouds of glory. They witnessed the miracles of matan Torah. They weren’t strangers to miracles. So why was it hard for them to believe that Hashem would give them Eretz Yisrael with miracles? The Sifsei Tzaddikim (from Rebbe Pinchas Madinovitz zt’l) replies, “They sullied their souls with several sins: the golden calf, the מתאוננים, and others, and they were convinced that they didn’t deserve any more nissim from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. This was their mistake! They forgot that Hashem always loves His nation. The Sifsei Tzaddikim explains that Hashem commanded, send spies into Eretz Yisrael, because Hashem wanted the nation to hear about the giants living there and about the fortified cities, so that they should know that even after their severe sins, Hashem will perform miracles for them. His attachment and love to them remains intact, forever. But the nation became afraid, and the opportunity was lost. As the Sifsei Tzaddikim writes, “Hashem told them to send meraglim…so they would see the giants living there and they will know that they can’t win the wars according to nature. And, nevertheless, they will enter the land and they will be granted Eretz Yisrael. This would teach them that Hashem always has compassion on His children. He makes miracles for them because of His love for them.” 

Miracles for the Mitzvos 

There are times when we want to do very good deeds, but we think that it is impossible. However, just as Hashem performs miracles for our physical needs, Hashem performs miracles to help us attain our spiritual dreams, too. Therefore, don’t be afraid. If you want to accomplish a lot, Hashem will grant you siyata dishmaya beyond the rules of nature so you can reach your goals. We are forbidden to wear shatnez, which is a garment made from linen and wool threads. The sefarim explain that linen and wool represent opposing strengths and isn’t good when they are mixed together. But in tzitzis, they can be interwoven together. As Chazal say, shatnez is permitted in tzitiz. We can learn a lesson from this. This halachah hints to us that when it comes to performing a mitzvah, opposing strengths shouldn’t deter us. Even when there is opposition, we can still accomplish Hashem’s will. 39:15 states: And you will see the tzitzis and you will remember all of Hashem’s mitzvos, and you will perform them…” We can explain: וראיתם אותו ,see the tzitzis and learn from them that you are able to overcome opposition and challenges. וזכרתם in awareness this with, you, mind את כל מצות ה׳ ועשיתם אותם will be able to keep all the mitzvos. Because, just as Hashem performs miracles to give us parnassah, health, a roof over our heads and so much more, Hashem also performs miracles to enable us to keep the mitzvos. The Ponovizher Rav zt’l once came to Radin to speak to the Chofetz Chaim zt’l. The Ponovizher Rav wanted this to be a short visit, because he had another train to catch. But the Chofetz Chaim spoke to him for a very long time and the Rav missed the train. Later, the Ponovizher Rav heard that the train he hoped to catch derailed and many people died. His life was saved, because the Chofetz Chaim spoke with him at length. The Ponovizher Rav said about this incident: “It isn’t that the Chofetz Chaim had ruach hakodesh at this time and knew that the train will get derailed. Rather, it’s because Heaven places into the mouth of an ehrlicher Yid the words he should say, at the right time.” Because when a person truly desires to do Hashem’s will, Hashem helps him succeed. Once, the Chofetz Chaim asked the Ponovizher Rav, “How many hours did you dedicate to Torah study today? Was it two hours? Perhaps three hours? I studied hundreds of hours today. This is because I have a yeshiva, where there are many bachurim studying Torah! I have a portion in all their Torah studies, so it is like I studied for hundreds of hours!” At that time, the Ponovizher Rav was considering closing his yeshiva, because he was having a hard time raising the funds. But Hashem placed into the Chofetz Chaim’s mouth the words that the Ponovizher Rav needed to hear. This conversation encouraged him to keep the yeshiva open, despite the hardships it entailed. The Chofetz Chaim sought to help people with his conversations, and Hashem helped him succeed, sometimes in supernatural ways. Similarly, when a person desires to excel in a certain area of avodas Hashem, Hashem will give him the siyata dishmaya he needs to succeed.