5:52pm - Havdalah, Saturday
(Melbourne Australia)
Good Shabbos!
This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim ("the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of the upcoming month of Tammuz, which falls on Thursday and Friday of the coming week.
Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon. See molad times.
PARSHAH IN A NUTSHELL
Numbers 13:1–15:41
The name of the Parshah, "Shelach," means "Send" and it is found in Numbers 13:2.
Moses sends twelve spies to the land of Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a lush and bountiful land. But ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are giants and warriors "more powerful than we"; only Caleb and Joshua insist that the land can be conquered, as G‑d has commanded.
The people weep that they'd rather return to Egypt. G‑d decrees that Israel's entry into the land shall be delayed forty years, during which time that entire generation will die out in the desert. A group of remorseful Jews storm the mountain on the border of the land, and are routed by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
The laws of the nesachim (meal, wine and oil offerings) are given, as well as the mitzvah to consecrate a portion of the dough (challah) to G‑d when making bread. A man violates the Shabbat by gathering sticks, and is put to death. G‑d instructs to place fringes (tzitzit) on the four corners of our garments, so that we should remember to fulfill the mitzvot (divine commandments).
HAFTORAH IN A NUTSHELL
Joshua 2:1-24
This week's haftorah tells the story of the spies that Joshua sent to scout the city of Jericho, prior to the Israelites' invasion of the Holy Land, a point in common with this week's Torah reading, which discusses the twelve spies that were sent by Moses years earlier to explore the Holy Land.
Joshua sent two spies to Jericho, where they lodged at an inn located in the city's walls, operated by a woman named Rahab. Their presence was quickly discovered by the king who sent for Rahab and asked her to turn in her guests. Rahab responded that her guests had already left the city — when actually she had hidden them on her rooftop.
"And she said to the men, I know that G‑d has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away because of you. For we have heard how G‑d dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you completely destroyed."
At Rahab's request, the two spies assured her that she and her family would not be harmed during the conquer of Jericho—provided that she would tie a scarlet thread and hang it from her window. This would be a symbol that this home is a safe haven. Rahab helped the men escape via a rope she lowered from her window and told them how to hide from possible pursuers. The spies escaped safely and returned to report to Joshua.
SAGES ON THE PARSHAH
We saw there the Nefilim, the giants descended of the fallen ones (13:33)
The descendents of Shamchazai and Azael, who fell from heaven in the generation of Enosh.
(Rashi)
When the generation of the Flood took to worshipping idols, and G‑d was saddened, there arose two angels, Shamchazai and Azael, who said to Him: "Master of the Universe! Did we not say to You, when You created Your world, 'What is man that You make mention of him?'"
Said G‑d: "And the world—what shall become of it?"
Said they: "Master of the Universe! We would suffice for it."
Said G‑d: "It is known and revealed to Me that if you dwelled upon earth, the Evil Inclination would dominate you, and you would be worse than the sons of man."
Said they: "Allow us to dwell among the humans, and You shall see that we will sanctify Your name!"
Said G‑d: "Descend and dwell amongst them."
Immediately they were corrupted.
(Yalkut Shimoni, Bereishit 44)
https://w2.chabad.org/media/pdf/22789.pdf
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