Parshas Shelach – Thoughts on the first Rashi

“And God spoke to Moshe, saying: Send, for yourself, men and have them scout the Land of Cana’an, which I am giving to B’nei Yisrael; you shall send one man, one man each, from his father’s tribe, each a leader among them.”

~ BaMidbar 13:1-2

Send, for yourself. Why is the chapter of the spies adjacent to the chapter of Miriam (the episode of her gossip about Moshe and subsequent punishment, 12:1-16)? Because she was punished over the matter of her slanderous conversation about her brother and those wicked men (the spies) saw but did not take instruction from the matter.

~ Rashi on BaMidbar 13:2

Rashi points out to us that the men selected to spy out the Land of Cana’an could have learned from Miriam’s experience and been careful not to speak poorly of the land God selected which, ultimately, served as disrespect of God Himself. But they ignored the example.

This brings to my mind an occurrence from somewhat recent news. In September 2011 New Jersey newspapers reported that, in a private meeting with wealthy conservative donors in Colorado months earlier, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made fun of New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (a Democrat) by stating that she needed his help to maintain her leadership post after she worked with him on legislation to decrease benefits to public workers. Oliver hotly denied the account and expressed bitter words about the governor.

The account may have amused the Governor’s partisan audience. But whether or not it was true it’s highly doubtful that this tidbit, which he shared with a group of people, enhanced his relationship with one of the legislative leaders he needs to advance other parts of his agenda.

This type of episode is repeated, in different forms, on both sides of the political aisle with reliable frequency. Influential people say things they shouldn’t and suffer consequences. I believe that nothing happens by coincidence, merely for our bemusement, or solely for partisan delight. So I ask myself, and any reader: When we see a very public episode of careless talk, such as the one I recounted with Governor Christie, are we wise enough to take the hint we’ve just been given, to be more careful ourselves? Or, like the spies, do we miss the signal and continue blithely on our merry way?