Community Torah Corner - June 12, 2026 — Shelach

In our lives as teens, it can be hard to state how you feel when you are in the minority. It can feel hard to disagree with others when you are the only one that feels that way. Peer pressure is a very powerful force. 

This relates perfectly to the parsha this week, parshat Shelach.

In the parsha, God commands Moshe to send scouts to scout out the land of Canaan (soon to be the land of Israel). He assigns 12 spies to go check it out. When they return, 10 of the spies share negative reports and claim that the Israelites will fail to conquer the land. But two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, disagree. Caleb stands up for what he believes and is the odd one out, and then Joshua follows and stands up to the people. Caleb says to the people: עָלֹ֤ה נַעֲלֶה֙ וְיָרַ֣שְׁנוּ אֹתָ֔הּ כִּֽי־יָכ֥וֹל נוּכַ֖ל לָֽהּ” which translates to  “Let us indeed go up, and possess it for we certainly prevail against it.” (Bamidbar 13:30). In other words, Caleb is saying, ‘We can do this!’

All the scouts saw the same land and the same people in it, so what led to Caleb and Joshua’s different opinion, and where did Caleb get this strength from to stand up to the crowd? 

The Torah hints to an answer when it devotes a whole passuk to emphasize that Caleb was special, and had a different sense. God says: “But My servant, Calev, because he was imbued with a different spirit, and he followed Me wholeheartedly, I shall bring him to the land to which he went, and his offspring will dispossess it.” (Bamidar 14:24)

What is this different spirit and why did Caleb have it? We think that this spirit was  Caleb's ability to see the good in the land. He was an optimist; he saw the bright side of things. Another answer is provided by Midrash and Rashi. They talk about how Caleb went to Hebron to pray at the graves of the patriarchs and matriarchs. Some of his additional strength could have been some extra help from his ancestors from his prayer. 

As we are coming to the end of the school year and ending a year of gathering in this space for tefillah, it is a good time to express the strength we get from Tefillah. We should have appreciation for the strength prayer in community gives us even when we don't know we need it. The strength we receive from tefillah enables us to stand up for opinions and face the world, just like Caleb did when giving his positive report of  the land. Just like Caleb, we also are strengthened by our ancestors, whether they are Avraham and Sarah, or relatives who lived much more recently. 

Let us learn from Caleb’s example and always stand up for what we believe in. It takes courage, but it’s our tradition. We don’t change our views just to fit in with others. 

Have a great summer, and Shabbat Shalom!