First published in Torah Tidbits and Rabbi Sprecher's website. We're not talking about the New York Giants here... 😉
Are we able to defeat the Giants? The Torah tells us that
the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael were y’lide ho’anaq, remnants of a race of
Giants. When the Meraglim returned with their report, they announced: “The
people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very
great, moreover, we saw the children of Giants there.” (Bamidbar 13:28)
And again, (Bamidbar 13: 32,33) reference is made to the ANSHE MIDDOTH, the men of great stature, and the N’FILLIM, the primeval Giants.
The Torah wants to impress upon us the fact that not Bigness was to conquer and hold the Holy Land – but Greatness. The Spies used the wrong measuring rod of Bigness, and that was their tragic and fatal error. However, G-d desires Greatness NOT Bigness.
This view of Bigness vs. Greatness is expressed in many places in Tanach. Yitzchak referred to Eisav as BNO HAGADOL (his big son) (Bereshit 27:2). And the Talmud comment, G-d said to Yitzchak, “By your standards Eisav may be Big; but by My standards Eisav is a dwarf among dwarfs.” (Bereshit Rabba 65:11)
In the 16th Chapter of Shmuel Aleph we are given a beautiful description of the Biblical concept of Greatness, as opposed to the popular concept of Bigness. The prophet Shmuel is sent to Bethlehem to select a successor to Shaul Hamelech in the kingship. One by one, Shmuel looks upon the sons of Yishai and thinks that this one or that one is the anointed of G-d, but G-d says to him: “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for it is not as a person sees; for person looks on the outward superficial appearance, but G-d looks into the heart of a human being.” (Shmuel Aleph 16:7).
And so it is Little David, though short in stature, who is selected, not by the standard of Bigness, but by the measuring rod of Greatness.
Bigness is measured from the chin down, but Greatness is measured from the chin up. A person may be the biggest and tallest player in the NBA and still be a mental midget.
The Greatness of a People is no more determined by their number than the Greatness of a person is determined by his height. This is certainly true in the case of Israel. As the Torah says: “For you are a Holy People to your G-d,… G-d did not choose and desire you because you were more in number than any people, for you are the fewest of all nations…” (Devarim 7:6,7).
We were selected because of Greatness, because of being an AM KADOSH (a Holy People) and not for our size and numbers. When we are counted it is from the chin up that we are counted – KI TISA ET ROSH – “when you raise up the head…” (Shemot 30:11). The Torah also says NASO ET ROSH, “When you lift up the head…” (Bamidbar 4:22).
Judaism is a religion which does not stress Bigness. For Bigness, a key word in our society today, is very often bought at the expense and pain of others. However, true Greatness is attained by developing the best talents within ourselves.
That is why the AM KADOSH (the Holy People) never had to fear the B’NEI ANAQ – the Giants. For ultimately our spiritual Greatness will triumph over the Giants mere Bigness.
Thus, the end of the Parsha of the Spies deals with the Mitzvah of Tzitzit. Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik ZT”L explains that the blue Techelet of Tzitzit is a symbol that all events in life are as profound and mysterious as the deep blue sky. The Talmud in Menachot states that the blue Techelet of Tzitzit reminds us to look up at the blue heavens and admire the incredible, vast expanse of endless space, leading to its Source, the EIN SOF – G-d.
As Tehillim 19:2 states, “The Heavens tell the glory of G-d’s Greatness”. By admiring and appreciating G-d’s Greatness and Goodness, we can achieve and attain our own greatness and goodness as well.
And again, (Bamidbar 13: 32,33) reference is made to the ANSHE MIDDOTH, the men of great stature, and the N’FILLIM, the primeval Giants.
The Torah wants to impress upon us the fact that not Bigness was to conquer and hold the Holy Land – but Greatness. The Spies used the wrong measuring rod of Bigness, and that was their tragic and fatal error. However, G-d desires Greatness NOT Bigness.
This view of Bigness vs. Greatness is expressed in many places in Tanach. Yitzchak referred to Eisav as BNO HAGADOL (his big son) (Bereshit 27:2). And the Talmud comment, G-d said to Yitzchak, “By your standards Eisav may be Big; but by My standards Eisav is a dwarf among dwarfs.” (Bereshit Rabba 65:11)
In the 16th Chapter of Shmuel Aleph we are given a beautiful description of the Biblical concept of Greatness, as opposed to the popular concept of Bigness. The prophet Shmuel is sent to Bethlehem to select a successor to Shaul Hamelech in the kingship. One by one, Shmuel looks upon the sons of Yishai and thinks that this one or that one is the anointed of G-d, but G-d says to him: “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for it is not as a person sees; for person looks on the outward superficial appearance, but G-d looks into the heart of a human being.” (Shmuel Aleph 16:7).
And so it is Little David, though short in stature, who is selected, not by the standard of Bigness, but by the measuring rod of Greatness.
Bigness is measured from the chin down, but Greatness is measured from the chin up. A person may be the biggest and tallest player in the NBA and still be a mental midget.
The Greatness of a People is no more determined by their number than the Greatness of a person is determined by his height. This is certainly true in the case of Israel. As the Torah says: “For you are a Holy People to your G-d,… G-d did not choose and desire you because you were more in number than any people, for you are the fewest of all nations…” (Devarim 7:6,7).
We were selected because of Greatness, because of being an AM KADOSH (a Holy People) and not for our size and numbers. When we are counted it is from the chin up that we are counted – KI TISA ET ROSH – “when you raise up the head…” (Shemot 30:11). The Torah also says NASO ET ROSH, “When you lift up the head…” (Bamidbar 4:22).
Judaism is a religion which does not stress Bigness. For Bigness, a key word in our society today, is very often bought at the expense and pain of others. However, true Greatness is attained by developing the best talents within ourselves.
That is why the AM KADOSH (the Holy People) never had to fear the B’NEI ANAQ – the Giants. For ultimately our spiritual Greatness will triumph over the Giants mere Bigness.
Thus, the end of the Parsha of the Spies deals with the Mitzvah of Tzitzit. Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik ZT”L explains that the blue Techelet of Tzitzit is a symbol that all events in life are as profound and mysterious as the deep blue sky. The Talmud in Menachot states that the blue Techelet of Tzitzit reminds us to look up at the blue heavens and admire the incredible, vast expanse of endless space, leading to its Source, the EIN SOF – G-d.
As Tehillim 19:2 states, “The Heavens tell the glory of G-d’s Greatness”. By admiring and appreciating G-d’s Greatness and Goodness, we can achieve and attain our own greatness and goodness as well.
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Now that Blogger's finally made it easier again to post comments, I can leave a comment saying...GREAT MUSSAR!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post.