Shlach: Rejecting the Land of Israel

"They began to speak badly about the land that they had explored." [Num. 13:32]

Not long after the end of WWII, at a Shabbat table in Jerusalem, the discussion turned to the phenomenon of visitors who tour Israel, and then return home bad-mouthing the country. "These tourists complain about the heat, the poverty, the backwardness, the government - and discourage other Jews from moving here!" exclaimed one man.

Rav Tvi Yehuda Kook (son of Rav Avraham Isaac Kook, the first Chief Rabbi), responded with the following parable:

There was once a wealthy young man who desired to marry a certain woman. She was the most beautiful girl in town, and was blessed with many talents and a truly refined character. As her family was not well-off, they were excited about the possible match with this wealthy man.

The young woman, however, was not interested. Rich or not, the young man was coarse and ill-mannered. She refused to meet with him.

But her father pressured her to meet with the young man. "One meeting doesn't obligate you to marry him!" To please her father, the young woman agreed.

The following Shabbat, the young man came to the house as arranged. A few minutes after his arrival, the girl entered the room - her hair uncombed, wearing a crumpled, worn dress and house slippers. Appalled at her disheveled appearance, it didn't take long before the young man made a hurried exit.

"What everyone says about this girl - it's not true!" proclaimed the astonished young man to all his friends. "She's an hideous old hag!"

Rav Tzvi Yehuda then explained his parable. Superficially, it would appear that the young man rejected the young woman. But the truth is that it was **she** who rejected him. So too, the Land of Israel doesn't display her beauty to all who visit. Only those worthy enough, merit to see the special qualities of Israel. It would seem that those dissatisfied visitors are the ones who reject the Land - but in reality it is the land which is rejecting them.

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Rav Tzvi Yehuda's response was most appropriate for the son of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook. When guests from outside of Israel would ask Rav Kook (the father) for a blessing, he would say: "May God bless you from Zion". [Psalms 128:5] And what is this 'blessing from Zion'? "And see the goodness of Jerusalem". [ibid]

The verse doesn't say that one should merit to see Jerusalem, but the "goodness of Jerusalem". Many people visit the holy city, but not everyone merits to see its hidden goodness ....

R. Simcha Raz, "Malachim kvnei Adam" pp.227-8; 230

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