24 June 27 • 2019
jn

The Power Of Relationships
O

ne thing is for certain: 
Relationships are never 
easy. They are hard work, 
challenging and fragile. They must 
be cultivated, nurtured and 
cherished. 
In a relationship that 
endures, there is honesty, 
trust, openness, constant 
communication and the rec-
ognition that we accept one 
another for who we are and 
not try to change others into 
who we want them to be.
In this week’
s Torah por-
tion, the relationship between 
Moses and God transforms 
into a new phase. Until now, 
God has been advising Moses 
as he leads the people through 
the desert, ever reassuring 
Moses and encouraging him to keep 
moving forward despite the distrac-
tions and frustrations along the way. 
On more than one occasion, Moses 
reaches a breaking point and is ready 
to be done. He is angry that the peo-
ple regularly complain that slavery 
in Egypt was much better than what 
they have now in the desert. 
The constant edginess of the 
Israelites has pushed Moses’
 buttons 
and he doesn’
t want one more min-
ute of leading this ungrateful group 
through the desert. He is prepared 
to quit and leave the leadership to 
someone else. But God again and 
again assures Moses that times will 
get better and, in so doing, sustains 
Moses in his role. 
This week though, the tables are 
turned, and Moses is the one who 
needs to strengthen and uphold God. 
At this juncture, it is the Almighty 
who struggles with the disappointing 
and rebellious behavior of this “stiff-
necked” people. In Numbers Chapter 
14, not once but twice God expresses 
frustration with the Israelites. In 

verses 11-12, God says to Moses: 
“How long will this people spurn 
Me and how long will they have no 
faith in Me despite all the signs that 
I have performed in their 
midst? I will strike them with 
pestilence and disown them 
…” And later in verse 27, God 
again laments: “How much 
longer will I have to put up 
with this evil group?” 
With the opportunity now 
to advise and strengthen God 
who threatens to abandon 
the people for their disloyalty, 
Moses pleads with God to 
pardon the people and to give 
them another chance. Due to 
the trust and honesty estab-
lished thus far, Moses feels 
comfortable appealing to God 
to spare the people. And because this 
relationship has evolved and matured 
over time, the Almighty heeds 
Moses’
 plea; this relationship stands 
the test of time. This is no different 
for us. 
Chaotic and stressful moments 
often call into question the strength 
of bonds with one another. In such 
times, it feels easier to focus on the 
disagreements, frustrations and mis-
understandings and to just allow the 
relationship to be broken. Yet, those 
difficult times also create an oppor-
tunity to focus instead on all the 
good moments, shared experiences, 
and times of exaltation and blessing. 
While relationships are never 
easy, if we grow, evolve and nurture 
along the way, and if the honesty, 
trust and openness remain, we have 
the ability to allow the most difficult 
of times to yield to a bond between 
us that is even stronger than it pre-
viously was. ■

Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff is the senior director of 

the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network.

Parshat 

Shelach 

Lechah: 

Numbers 

13:1-15:41; 

Joshua 

2:1-24.

spirit

torah portion

Rabbi Joseph 
Krakoff

!@*?#!!
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