Parshat Shelach: Developing 20/20 Vision
Jun 8, 2026 · 15 min · 6 segments
- Speakers
- Tzippi ZuckermanHost
- Top entities
- Gemara×7Torah×8ShlachLand of Israel×5Judaism×3
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- SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈854 followers
Jun 8, 2026 · 15 min · 6 segments
Revolva in Alishor explains that Hashem created us with natural drives, and we shouldn't denigrate them.
Kinah jealousy pushes us to learn and grow through kinah sofrim, jealousy of a Torah scholar, which increases wisdom.
Do we use that drive to propel us to learn more Torah and to connect to Hashem? Or to compete over who has a more prestigious degree or a bigger house? Kaiva, desire, pushes us to get married and build a family.
Do we use that drive to bond deeply and give to our spouse in marriage? Kavod, desire for honor, pushes us to build the world.
Do we use that drive to protect Hashem's honor? The key is how we utilize these drives and for what purpose we direct them.
If you think about it, the main distinction in how we use our drives is based on whether our motivation is self-focused or truly other-focused.
For people on the level of the spies, it demanded honesty that reaches into the deepest levels of the subconscious.
To understand why such a subtle distinction matters, imagine a computer program developed for a sensitive national defense purpose.
There was a huge amount at stake in the spies' mission to scout out the land.
Their goal was one of earth-shattering proportions, the actualization of the vision of Sinai in the land of Israel, which is essentially the purpose of the world.
And whether their actions stem from a truly altruistic or a slightly self-serving place was very important.
When the spies slandered the land of Israel, they not only caused their generation to die in the desert, but their sin is the cause of all exile throughout history.
But what propelled them to slander the land? And what is its connection to exile? Our approach here is based on Ramosha Shapiro and the Sefer Mimam Hakim.
Ramchal says that the spies sinned because they knew that they were going to lose their leadership status once they entered the land.
Their fear of losing their status caused them to try to prevent the people from entering.
Were they really focused on their own honor in such a blatant and crass way? Especially when they knew the consequences would be so enormous.
The Spas Emes takes a different approach than the Ramchal, saying that their motivation was spiritual.
They wanted to remain at the higher, more supernatural level of life in the desert, rather than entering the more natural framework of life in Eretz Yisrael.
On the conscious level, their motivation seemed entirely spiritual and altruistic.
Revolva in Alishor explains that Hashem created us with natural drives, and we shouldn't denigrate them.
Kinah jealousy pushes us to learn and grow through kinah sofrim, jealousy of a Torah scholar, which increases wisdom.
Do we use that drive to propel us to learn more Torah and to connect to Hashem? Or to compete over who has a more prestigious degree or a bigger house? Kaiva, desire, pushes us to get married and build a family.
Do we use that drive to bond deeply and give to our spouse in marriage? Kavod, desire for honor, pushes us to build the world.
Do we use that drive to protect Hashem's honor? The key is how we utilize these drives and for what purpose we direct them.
If you think about it, the main distinction in how we use our drives is based on whether our motivation is self-focused or truly other-focused.
For people on the level of the spies, it demanded honesty that reaches into the deepest levels of the subconscious.
To understand why such a subtle distinction matters, imagine a computer program developed for a sensitive national defense purpose.
There was a huge amount at stake in the spies' mission to scout out the land.
Their goal was one of earth-shattering proportions, the actualization of the vision of Sinai in the land of Israel, which is essentially the purpose of the world.
And whether their actions stem from a truly altruistic or a slightly self-serving place was very important.
When the spies slandered the land of Israel, they not only caused their generation to die in the desert, but their sin is the cause of all exile throughout history.
But what propelled them to slander the land? And what is its connection to exile? Our approach here is based on Ramosha Shapiro and the Sefer Mimam Hakim.
Ramchal says that the spies sinned because they knew that they were going to lose their leadership status once they entered the land.
Their fear of losing their status caused them to try to prevent the people from entering.
Were they really focused on their own honor in such a blatant and crass way? Especially when they knew the consequences would be so enormous.
The Spas Emes takes a different approach than the Ramchal, saying that their motivation was spiritual.
They wanted to remain at the higher, more supernatural level of life in the desert, rather than entering the more natural framework of life in Eretz Yisrael.
On the conscious level, their motivation seemed entirely spiritual and altruistic.
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