By: Jenna Raimist
Senior Director to the CEO
In Parashat Sh’lach, God tells Moses to send leaders from each tribe to scout the land. They return with proof that it’s abundant—truly a land flowing with milk and honey. But their report quickly turns: the people are strong and the risk is too great. Of the tribe leaders who returned, only Caleb and Joshua see it differently. They plead that they are able to take possession of the land, but the others continue to disagree. Fear takes over; the community turns on Moses and Aaron, and go so far as longing to return to Egypt. In that moment, they can’t see possibility… only danger.
That’s really the turning point of the story. The reality in front of them is the same. The same land, the same facts; what changes everything, though, is how they meet that reality. God is ready to give up on them. Moses pushes back, reminding God of his own capacity for patience and forgiveness. God relents, but not without consequence. This generation, defined by fear, won’t enter the land. Only Joshua and Caleb, and the next generation, will get there after years of wandering. The parashah closes with reminders of what it means to live differently once they do: shared standards, accountability, and small, daily practices like tzitzit that keep us grounded in who we are.
And that question, how we meet what’s in front of us, feels especially relevant right now. This week, our Teen Engagement team and 30 teens began this year’s Joyce Zeff Israel Study Tour (IST). But instead of traveling to Poland and Israel, they made the difficult decision to pivot to a European heritage tour instead.
The destination is different. But the core work of the experience—learning, connection, identity-building—is still very much there. And in some ways, that’s the invitation of this moment: not to get stuck on what was supposed to be, but to fully meet what is. Ultimately, it isn’t just about where we’re going. It’s how we choose to show up for what’s in front of us. We may not get to choose the path, but we do get to choose how we walk it, and who we become along the way. Wishing you and yours a lovely weekend.
Shabbat Shalom.
Please email Jenna Raimist at jraimist@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.