Parashat Shelach Lecha
„A lack of faith in the foundation of the good brings faintheartedness, and this faintheartedness causes it to be impossible for a person to stand firm in the spiritual battle for the exalted desire... And this is the whole basis of the fall that befalls a person... a lack of faith in the light of the good that shines within him.”From Shemonah Kevatzim VIII, 58
In this week's portion, when the spies saw the land, they were impressed. They recognized its goodness, they knew how wondrous it was, but they did not believe that they were capable. The heresy was not in the land but in their power to conquer it and to be worthy of it. And the deep reason for this was the faintheartedness that stems from a lack of faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, and a lack of faith in their power to inherit it. When a person stops believing that there is light within him, when he begins to think that he is unworthy of the good, he begins to fade. Sound familiar? In these days, in which we merit to strike our enemies and to repair the sin of the spies, let us pray that we may also merit a complete redemption and victory over evil. And faith that we are capable and worthy, God willing.
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From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.