One of the great debates of Jewish life, both today and in the past, concerns the extent to which we should interact with the outside world. Opinions range from those who advocate almost complete separation, to proponents of virtual assimilation. While one can see these viewpoints as stand alone competing ideological positions, it is also possible to regard them as different approaches to differing circumstances and times. Rashi, at the beginning of this week’s Parshah, gives us a hint of how we may view this debate. Moses instructs the spies to check whether the inhabitants of the Land are strong or weak and whether they live in fortified towns or open villages. Rashi conflates these two questions into one. If the people live in castles it means they are weak and need the protection of walls, while if they life in unprotected villages it means they have the strength to defend themselves without external fortifications. They same can be said for Judaism. If our Judaism is strong and vibrant we may safely interact with the outside world, without losing our faith and identity. On the other hand, if we are unsure or weak in our faith, we need walls of separation to protect us from possible fatal contamination. There are thus obviously periods in Jewish history when one or the other approach has been appropriate. There are also periods, such as the last two hundred years, when a vital debate has occurred as to which path to follow. Yet, I believe, today that debate should be practically, if not ideologically, at an end. We have approached the issue from the stand point of our choice. If we are weak we can erect walls; if strong we can dispense with them. Yet today, in effect, we do not have a choice, and so the question is inverted. In the age of the internet we no longer have the option of erecting walls. All barriers are increasingly permeable. Even in the most secluded enclaves of Jewish life, the often pernicious influence of the outside world are making inroads. No Jewish community today, for example, even the most traditional, is immune from a drug problem among their youth, . If that is the case, and we today all live, whether we like it or not, in an open global village; we effectively have no choice except one: to be strong. The only answer to the dilemma of Jewish life in the post-modern world is a strong and vibrant Judaism that can confidently and successfully interact with the outside world. Other options no longer exist.

 ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS 

Rishon	Moses sends spies to raconteur the Land.
Sheni	The spies report that the people of the Land are too strong to overcome.
Shelishi	The people refuse to go forward. G-d is annoyed and swears that they will not enter the Land.
Revi’i	The people must wander forty years in the wilderness till that generation has died out.
Chamishi	The drink offering to be offered with sacrifices.
Shishi	The law of Hallah and the communal sin offering.
Shevi’i	The individual sin offering and the law of Tzitzit.
Haftorah	Joshua 2;1–24: Joshua sends spies who report that the inhabitants are terrified of the Israelites.

 Sidra Statistics

Parshat Shelach

·               has 119 verses;

·               is the  4th  in Numbers,  37th  in the Torah

·                5th  longest in Numbers,  19th  longest  in the Torah  

·                has 3 pos + 1 neg =  4 mitzvot.