Miller's Musings Parshas Shelach-Lecho: The Golden Sound

בס''ד

The tale of the spies entering Eretz Yisroel to bring back a report of the land bestowed to them by Hashem, is forever associated with ideas of duplicity, negative talk and false gossip.  Although this was true of the ten tribes who spoke ill, there were two, Colev and Yehoshua, who refused to conform to the schemes of the others.  Interestingly, although neither of these personalities participated in the slander against the land, it was only Colev who stands up and disputes the veracity of their deceit.  Yehoshua all the while remains entirely silent, curious behaviour indeed for a man that will subsequently lead this nation into the very land being defamed by his peers. 

Entering the unknown is of course always wrought with fears and doubts.  In the case of their looming entrance into Eretz Yisroel, the fear that most burdened the Jewish people arose from the prophecy that Moshe would die before they set foot in the land, with Yehoshua being his replacement.  Their faith in Moshe, his leadership and the miracles that had accompanied him throughout their journey, would cease once he has passed on.  How would they possibly face the daunting task of conquering the land without him!  It was this point that Colev stood up and contended with, reminding them that it was Hashem, and Hashem only, that was the source of all the wonders they had experienced.  For Colev to make this point was fine and appropriate.  The danger of Yehoshua disputing this notion of the relative irrelevance of Moshe in this regard, was that many may have perceived it as a form of subversion of Moshe’s rule and a clamour for honour for himself.

The need to express one’s own opinions is something that almost all of us feel.  When others state a point of view contrary to what we believe to be the reality, something inside us yearns to protest and set right was has been wronged.  Like everything in existence, there is a time for just that behaviour, but, like everything in existence, there is a time for abstention.  The faculty of remaining silent is an almost lost art today.  Yet there are moments where to speak up will bring nothing but damage to the situation.  To argue, when the one with the opposing view is firmly resolved never to change, may only bring more animosity and result in no positive effects and just because something is true, does not mean that it always must be said.  The key is of course the need to consider carefully before one speaks.  To remain silent and indifferent to that which is wrong is at times the greatest sin of all, but to speak and provoke harm, may be an equal evil.

May Shabbos be full of meaningful speech and sagacious silence. 

 

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