By Rabbi Laurence Malinger
What poses the greatest hurdle in achieving our goals – is it the difficulty of the mission, or our own internal fears and resistance? How much of our success is dependent on attitude and our self-confidence as opposed to actual skills? This week in Parshat Shelach L’cha (Numbers 13:1-15:41), the text guides us in answering some of these important questions, just as we have begun another wonderful summer here at URJ Camp Harlam.
Ten of the twelve scouts Moses sent to scope out the Promised Land, acknowledged that it was beautiful and fruitful, but the inhabitants were powerful and lived in well-fortified cities. The message was clear: we cannot hope to overcome them. The panicked Israelites then revolted against Moses and God for leading them into the desert where they faced certain death. In Egypt, at the very least, they managed to survive. A frustrated God then decreed the 40 years trek in the desert until that generation perished. Their children and grandchildren would be the ones to conquer and settle the Land.
In our own lives, it is insufficient to pray for God to better our crises. Doing nothing and sinking into a state of self-pity generally leads to failure and the perpetuation of the crisis. Granted there are situations where our options are severely limited, but where there is a determination on our part to move forward, we will hopefully sense God at our side. Even if there sadly is a negative outcome, we may feel assured that we did everything possible to succeed.
We all confront crises in our lives, especially our children. It may be a family breakdown, a loss of a friend, a fear of the world in which we currently experience, or the inevitable health issues. No one goes through life unscathed, and at these critical junctures we can sink into despair, decry our fate and do nothing, or we can begin to explore possible solutions to our dilemma.
One of the greatest gifts we are all blessed with is the presence of our URJ Camp Harlam. Here, our children – these campers – enter an environment that welcomes and values everyone. We create a sacred space that allows each of us to work on overcoming our fears and hesitations. Our staff, faculty and leadership team members work together to offer encouragement and guidance that inspires our campers and each one of us – we can and will do great things. Unlike the ten spies who lost faith in God and in themselves, we here at Camp Harlam have gathered together to dream great dreams, help one another to aim higher, and to inspire all of us to be the person one can truly become.
Rabbi Laurence Malinger is the rabbi of Temple Shalom of Aberdeen, New Jersey and celebrates his 20th summer as a member of the faculty of URJ Camp Harlam.