Bs”d
Parshas Shlach (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
In our parsha we have the mitzvah of tzitzis which was given to us as part of a series of mitzvos whose purpose is to serve as a source of reminders of true values and our life’s purpose. Perhaps we might find the hints that Rashi and other sources suggest that tzitzis are symbolic of a bit far-fetched. For example:
The gimatria of tzitzis is 600 plus the 8 strings and 5 knots equal to 613.
The 8 strings represent the 8 days from the time Bnei Yisroel left Egypt until they said shira.
The 4 corners of the tzitzis hint at the 4 expressions of geula—v’hotzaisi, v’hitzalti’ v’goalti’ v’lokachti.
Al “kanfei” bigdaychem eludes to the prophesy and hope that Hashem will gather us al “kanfei” nesharim. (and many more).
Perhaps what Chazal meant by these is that they were not the intrinsically intended hints but rather presenting examples of an approach for ourselves to use as tools for individual projections of significance.
As a result of their acceptance and sympathy to the report of the spies Bnei Yisroel were deprived entry to Eretz Yisroel. Conventionally, this is viewed as something very negative. The idea of being confined to the desert for 40 years seems equivalent to imprisonment. We must understand that for a human to exist in a desert without the necessary sophisticated equipment would be fatal. For the multitudes of Klal Yisroel to exist in the desert was only possible through constant miracles; all their physical needs were taken care of by Hashem in the form of constant Divine intervention. All their time was occupied by intensive Torah learning. It was one great, awesome Kollel! Because of their reaction to the spies they weren’t ready for the glorious era of entering Eretz Yisroel—they still needed the rich spiritual reinforcement offered in the Kollel of the midbar; this being very far from the prison concept.
We all need a midbar in our lives—a time and situation for intensive, spiritual building to draw from our whole lives.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.