spirit

torah portion

Forty Days and 40 Nights

I

Parshat Shelach
Lecha: Numbers
13:1-15:11;
Joshua 2:1-24.

n this week’s portion, Moses
sends 12 spies (one from each
tribe) into the Promised Land to
scope it out.
After 40 days, the spies return and
share that the land is indeed flow-
ing with milk and honey. However,
10 of the 12 spies continued to share
that the land is inhabited
by giants and that those
easier to give up than to try
living there are much more
and tackle our perceived
powerful than the Israelites.
uphill battles. We may call
This resulted in an outcry by
out in frustration, whine
the Israelites, questioning
about them and even con-
Moses’ leadership and God’s
clude that a particular task
involvement, exclaiming that
is unworthy of our efforts.
it would have been better
And yet, our tradition seems
Rabbi Dan
to die in Egypt than to die
to suggest that we shouldn’t
by the sword while trying to Horwitz
simply abandon worthy
conquer what was perceived
projects, but rather com-
as unconquerable.
mit to tackling them for at
As punishment for their
least 40 days before making
lack of faith, the Israelites are
a decision (and sometimes,
condemned to wander in the desert
maybe even for 40 years).
for 40 years — one year for each day
What would it look like if we dedi-
the spies had been in the Promised
cated 40 days to tackling the various
Land.
obstacles we encounter in life?
I want to draw attention to the
In our world of hyper-connectivity
number 40. It is a significant num-
and instant gratification, 40 days
ber in our tradition, and it often is
feels like an eternity. However, when
considered in the broader context
used to symbolize significant spiri-
of the days of our lives, 40 days is
tual cleansing.
just a fingernail as compared with
In the Book of Genesis in the nar-
our bodies. Yet, despite the relatively
rative of Noah’s Ark; when the world
short period of time, our tradition
was flooded, it rained for 40 days
makes clear that 40 days is time
and nights.
enough to be life-altering.
In the Book of Exodus, Moses
May we have the courage and
went up to Mt. Sinai for 40 days and
strength to face life’s inevitable chal-
nights to receive the Torah.
lenges head on, devote ourselves
Now in the Book of Numbers,
to the steps necessary to overcome
we find that the spies scoured the
them, and after 40 days, take note
Promised Land for 40 days and
of where we were, where we are and
nights before returning with their
how far we’ve come. It’s up to us to
report.
make the time. •
The traditional ritual bath, the
mikvah, which we use to purify our-
Dan Horwitz is the rabbi and founding director
selves, traditionally contains 40 se’ah
of water (there are about five gallons of The Well, an inclusive Jewish community-
building, education and spirituality outreach
in a se’ah).
initiative of the Lori Talsky Zekelman Fund at
If a Torah scroll is dropped, it is
Temple Israel, geared to the needs of young
customary to fast for 40 days.
adults and those who haven’t connected with
traditional institutions in Metro Detroit. For
Similar to our Israelite ancestors,
information, visit www.meetyouatthewell.org.
we sometimes feel that it would be

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June 15 • 2017

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