Fearful Spies

Shaking or trembling, which comes from the limbic brain (the part of the brain that holds emotions), sends a signal that the danger has passed and that the fight-or-flight system can turn off. They are literally finishing the nervous system response to release the traumatic experience from the body.

It feels that some of us need to do a major shake to rid the body of the trauma of the past 15 months.  Maintaining the trauma inside is not healthy emotionally, psychologically or physically.  But perhaps most importantly it is not healthy spiritually. 

In this week’s Torah portion we read of the Spies who entered into the land of Israel to determine the strength of those that inhabited the land.  They returned with a fearful and negative report.  On account of their fear that entire generation remained in the desert.

Perhaps the fact that they carried such fear traumatized an entire generation to the point that they were not able to see themselves as truly liberated people. 

What was the underlying fear of the spies.  It was manifest as fear of the inhabitants of the land and their perceived inability to conquer.

According to the teachings of Chasidus, their fear was much more deeply rooted.  It came from a fear of finding G-d in the mundane day to day workings and struggles of life.  

In the desert the Manna, Cloud of Glory fed and protected them and their occupation was Torah study with Moses and Aaron. Entering into the land was going to change that.  Their fear was that it would be too difficult to connect spiritually in the working of the fields, the growing of a family and all of the other challenges and temptations of the “real world”. 

Today we know otherwise.  We can be strong Jews in a very mundane and secular world.  (See how Chabad has been able to stay strong and grow the Jewish impact in this article about the recent Pew study.)

While the world can sometimes lose itself in fear, we can learn from the mistake of the Spies to remember that our strength comes from One Source.  Yes, Hashem wants us to be responsible and take care, and Hashem also wants us to live our lives with faith and trust that there is a conductor to this symphony.

So if you feel like you’ve been carrying around fear, shake it off.  Be grateful that we are on this side of the virus, be thankful to Hashem, learn the lessons and let’s embrace our beautiful tradition and Torah – it’s an anchor like no other.

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