This Week’s Torah Portion: Sh’lach L’cha – שְׁלַח-לְךָ (Numbers 13:1−15:41)
אֲנִ֞י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
I am Adonai, your God, who drew you out from the land of Egypt in order to become your God: I, Adonai, your God. (Numbers 15:41).
The very end of the text we know as the V’ahavta is a beautiful reminder that God yearns to be in relationship with us, just as much as we yearn to be in relationship with God. This Shabbat may we be open to the invitation to explore the possibility of exploring our relationship to God in our own special, unique ways.
Parsha Sh’lach L’cha – שְׁלַח-לְךָ Torah Summary:
Moses sends twelve spies to the Land of Israel to report on the inhabitants and the country. Despite the positive report of Joshua and Caleb, the people are frightened. (13:1–14:10)
God threatens to wipe out the Children of Israel but relents when Moses intercedes on their behalf. To punish the people, God announces that all those who left Egypt would not enter the Land of Israel except for Joshua and Caleb. (14:11–45)
Moses instructs the Israelites regarding setting aside challah, the observance of the Sabbath, how to treat strangers, and the laws of tzitzit. (15:1–41)
Sh’lach L’cha – שְׁלַח-לְךָ אֲנִ֞י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
I am Adonai, your God, who drew you out from the land of Egypt in order to become your God: I, Adonai, your God. (Numbers 15:41).
The very end of the text we know as the V’ahavta is a beautiful reminder that God yearns to be in relationship with us, just as much as we yearn to be in relationship with God. This Shabbat may we be open to the invitation to explore the possibility of exploring our relationship to God in our own special, unique ways.