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Try, Try Again
BY 4-TIME TONY™ WINNER
HARVEY FIERSTEIN
(La Cage aux Folles, Kinky Boots)
Nestled in the Catskills in 1962, an inconspicuous resort caters to a special clientele
who is given an opportunity to share their secret lives with the world while risking
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jn
I
n this week’s Torah portion, 12
spies are sent to check out the
land God promised the Israelites.
Among them is Joshua, Moses’ per-
sonal assistant, chosen from the
tribe of Ephraim.
It was Joshua’s first big solo assign-
ment, his first shot at real leadership.
He must have been excited. How
the end of his life, it is Joshua whom
then must he have felt when
the people accept as his suc-
he flopped?
cessor. The Joshua whom
Of course, we know that
the people ignored years
things don’t end well. When
earlier becomes the unani-
the spies come back, 10
mous choice.
of the 12 advise not to go
And he is good! He learns
forward. Caleb, the only
from experience. In the
spy who shares Joshua’s
haftarah that goes with
view, speaks up and tries
this week’s portion, we
Rabbi Brent
Gutmann
to dissuade them. Only
get a glimpse. In a second
after Caleb’s failure do we
story of spies, this time sent
hear Joshua’s voice, and by
to Jericho as Joshua now
that time it all seems way
leads the Israelites into the
too late. Most of the people
promised land, it is not a
around them have already been dis-
delegate committee. Instead, Joshua
suaded and the cause is lost. A gen-
handpicks two representatives to be
eration is fated to die in the wilder-
sure not to get the same result as a
ness. Joshua had failed.
generation before.
Many people in this kind of situa-
We get these two stories together
tion would find the easiest and most this week, both involving Joshua,
perhaps to remind us of something
attractive choice open at this point
we all know from experience. We
to be early retirement. Joshua has
don’t always get great success with
had a great run as assistant at the
our first try. One of the most impor-
top level, a try at local politics, a
tant qualifications for long-term suc-
chance to serve in what could argu-
cess is the ability to deal with short-
ably be seen as the most important
mission of the generation and a total term frustration. Very likely there
will be temptations to give it all up
failure.
and try something else. But history
Many leaders throughout history
is filled with examples of people who
have surely started their careers in
didn’t give up and ultimately became
a manner something like this and
truly great and gifted leaders.
ended their careers like this as well.
In a way, throughout life the pat-
Truthfully, I have known more than
tern is the same. Some people face
a few rabbis, and more than a few
terrible reverses and devastating
volunteers in various Jewish com-
losses — loss of job and income and
munities, who have been in similar
housing and support system and
situations. Lots of people have good
sometimes more. We understand
qualifications, good training, some
why some people find that crush-
terrific experience, enthusiasm for
ing. But there are also stories, many
the cause; and then they are given
of them, about people who face the
their first taste of real community
losses, keep trying, allow others to
service and quickly call it quits.
help, learn from experience, keep
But some people stick with it.
Joshua stuck with it. In his first effort plugging away and eventually make
it successfully. •
on his own he bombs. But that first
effort is hardly his last. He will yet
Brent Gutmann is a rabbi at Temple Kol Ami in
appear in many more of our Bible
stories. And when Moses approaches West Bloomfield.
Parshat Shelach
Lecha: Numbers
13:1-15:41; Joshua
2:1-24.