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Orchard of Delights
such a symbolic manner, Kabbalah and Chassidut understand not
only all the mitzvot in the Torah this way but propose that every shelach ח ַל ְׁש
story, chapter, verse, and letter in the Torah yields layer upon layer
of symbolic and associative meanings. For this reason the Sages state
that there are seventy faces to the Torah, while the Arizal wrote of
600,000 faces, one for each letter in the Torah and one for each of the
A Light Unto the Nations
££A Light Unto the NationsA Light Unto the Nations
600,000 Jewish root soul sparks. The symbolic strata associated with £A Light Unto the NationsA Light Unto the NationsA Light Unto the Nations
££
the Torah narrative do not undermine a literal reading of the text or
call into question the text’s literal story line; rather, they reveal ever
deeper levels of understanding, which make the Torah personally “And God spoke to Moses saying: Send for you men that they may
relevant and meaningful to every individual.
spy out the Land of Canaan which I give to the children of Israel”
In the early 1900s, a style of writing termed “stream of (Numbers 13:1-2). The Hebrew root of the word “shelach” (send),
consciousness” captured many peoples’ imaginations. This genre the name of this Torah portion, interestingly enough appears in
championed a narrative style based on the loose association of freely the names of two other portions as well: Vayishlach, when Jacob
flowing thoughts. Contemporary rap music adopts a similar style. sends messengers to Esau before re-entering the Land of Israel, and
Yet, when learning Talmud one realizes that these techniques are not Beshalach, when Pharaoh sends the Jewish people away after years
as new as we may think. The Talmud’s free flow of pure logic and legal of slavery.
argumentation, interspersed by a multitude of stories and pertinent Not only do all three portions share the same root word in their
oral traditions, creates a weave of intellectual and psychological names, they also have coming to the Land of Israel in common. Jacob
strands that create an awesomely beautiful stream of consciousness, sends messengers to Esau, hoping to appease him before re-entering
a veritable tapestry of spiritual insights juxtaposed with practical the Land. Pharaoh sends the people from Egypt thus sending them
applications. In adopting this style, the Talmud reflects a similar on a journey that will ultimately culminate in the Promised Land.
phenomenon found in the Torah, wherein stories and mitzvot are In our portion, Moses sends spies to assess the lay of the land and its
juxtaposed to reveal their deep inner connections.
inhabitants in order to devise a plan of conquest.
In order to make sure one performs the mitzvot with kavvanah (deep The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, taught
intent) it is useful to pause both before and during their performance that the numerical value of the word “shaliach” (a messenger, with a
to make spiritual associations and realize the symbolic ramifications specific purpose or mission) – which has the same root as “shelach”
of our actions. In addition to taking advantage of the insights – is 348. If an additional letter yud, equaling 10, is added to the
provided by the Sages and a multitude of commentators through the word “shaliach,” it equals 358, the same as the numerical value of
ages, everyone is encouraged to find new and inspiring ways to make Mashiach. The Rebbe explains that the additional yud is the hidden
the mitzvot relevant and meaningful in a deeply personal way. The point of pure potential, the spark of Mashiach within every Jew.
more Torah one learns the richer the possibilities become for making
associative connections between ideas and concepts. Ultimately, the The prophet Isaiah summed up the Jewish people’s mission with
more we learn the more we become aware of the unity of all things, great brevity: “to be a light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). This holy
of how everything is rooted in God’s oneness. This, as we discussed light is initially hidden within every Jew, but when it is activated,
above in the section “Inherent Unity” in the portion of Terumah, is the dormant spark of Mashiach and the Jew’s hidden leadership

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