Rabbi Frand on Parshas Shlach
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 197, Carrying
Medicine on Shabbos. Good Shabbos!
G-d's Favorites are the Unsung Heroes
The Haftorah that we read on the Shabbos of Parshas Shlach is from the
beginning of the book of Yehoshua. Just as in Parshas Shlach we learn about
the spies that Moshe sent, the Haftorah teaches us about the spies that
Yehoshua sent. "A Tale of Two Spy Missions." Ironically, although the spies
that Moshe sent caused a terrible tragedy for Klal Yisroel [the Jewish
Nation], Yehoshua's first major decision as leader of the nation was to send
spies into Eretz Yisroel [the Land of Israel] to re-reconnoiter the land.
These spies were successful, and following their report Klal Yisroel entered
the Land and conquered the enemy.
The Medrash in Parshas Shlach comments on the two spies that Yehoshua sent:
"There is nothing as dear to G-d as an agent sent on a mission to do a
mitzvah, who tries and successfully completes the mitzvah; and there is no
greater example of individuals sent to do a mitzvah who carried out their
mission with great self-sacrifice and dedication as those two sent by
Yehoshua son of Nun." The Medrash then identifies these two agents as
Pinchas and Kolev (although the text in Yehoshua itself leaves them
anonymous). Kolev and Pinchas are the classic examples of a "shliach
mitzvah" [an agent appointed to do a mitzvah] for all generations.
Why does G-d love an agent who is sent to do a mitzvah? Rav Bergman writes
that a "shliach mitzvah" acts without the fanfare and without the limelight.
He receives none of the honor or satisfaction of initiating the mitzvah --
he simply completes the job! This is the performance of a mitzvah in its
highest form -- without personal gain or honor. The initiator of the mitzvah
is the one who will usually get the credit.
That is why Pinchas and Kolev provide such a classic example. As Rav Bergman
points out, Kolev and Pinchas were really almost contemporaries of Moshe
Rabbeinu. They were certainly equal to if not greater than and older than
Yehoshua. It would have been their natural inclination to ask, "Me? I should
be your errand boy?" Pinchas could say, "Yehoshua -- you are telling me to
be a spy? I remember when you were a spy!" The fact that these individuals
were able to sublimate their egos and honor and just get the job done in the
most anonymous fashion is worthy of the greatest esteem by G-d.
I think that there is a segment of our community whose role in Jewish
religious life often fits into this category of the unsung "Shiluchei
Mitzvah". Such is the traditional religious role of the women of Klal
Yisroel.
The lot of the traditional Jewish woman is not an easy one. It is not easy
to always be behind the mechitzah. It is not easy to make sure that one's
husband has the ability to learn Torah while she has that wonderful task of
putting children to sleep. The men get the geshmak (exhilarating religious
experience), we get the honor at the Siyum HaShas [celebration at the
conclusion of learning the Talmud], but the women make it happen. They are
the unsung heroes, the "Shiluchei Mitzvah" that often do not get the
pleasure, the honor, or the limelight. They are not in the public. "The
honor of the daughter of the King is within" [Tehillim 45:14].
They do not enjoy public glorification, the limelight. But, when they get to
the World of Truth, our Sages tell us "Greater is the reward given to women
than to men" [Brochos 17a] -- they will have a "box seat" up there.
Nonetheless, in the meantime, it can be difficult.
It is the responsibility of men, as husbands and as fathers, to try to make
life a little easier, to show the appreciation for the "Shiluchei Mitzvah".
If G-d has no favorite as great as the behind the scenes foot-soldiers; that
should teach us how we should regard such "Shiluchei Mitzvah" as well.
I was thinking of an analogy to this. [This drasha was delivered in June
1991.] Ask any American (who had not spent the previous six months in a
cave), "Who was the head of the Allied forces in the Persian Gulf?" Everyone
knows -- General H. Norman Schwarzkopf was the hero who "pulled it off".
Before the war started, I read the comment that "amateurs talk about
strategy; professionals talk about logistics". The 'trick' of making war is
figuring out the logistics. How do you keep 530,000 men fed? How do you
bring them water? Logistics!
Schwarzkopf himself said that the big accomplishment of the war was to
quickly move 250,000 troops to the west and to attack Iraq from the flank.
Who got them there? It was a miracle of logistics.
So who was the general in charge of logistics? No one knows his name.
Everybody talks about the brilliant Schwarzkopf. What about the brilliant
logistician, the guy who made it happen -- who brought the guns, and food,
and fuel there? Who is he? Why is he not making $25,000 for every speech he
delivers? The answer is because nobody appreciates logistics. Nobody knows
the "Shiluchei Mitzvah". Nobody knows the people who make it happen.
In a similar sense, nobody "knows" the women. Unfortunately, their role is
not appreciated. Our job is to ensure that we show appreciation and
demonstrate that there is nothing as dear to G-d as the "Shiluchei Mitzvah".
Glossary
Shliach mitvah -- an agent appointed to do a command
Mechitzah -- partition
This week's write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah portion (#197).
The corresponding halachic portion for this tape is: Carrying Medicine on
Shabbos. The other halachic portions for Sh'lach from the Commuter Chavrusah
Series are:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from
Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
