In Parashat Shelach Lecha, we encounter one of the most painful moments in the journey of the Jewish people through the desert. Twelve distinguished leaders are sent to scout the Land of Israel, but ten of them return with a fearful report: “We saw giants there… We were like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we were in their eyes.”

This single verse contains a tragic psychological truth: when we see ourselves as small, others will too. The sin of the spies was not merely fear; it was the internal collapse of faith, courage, and trust in God’s promises. They allowed external threats to become internal truths. The result? A whole generation was denied the opportunity to enter the Land.

Now, fast forward thousands of years to our current moment. Once again, the people of Israel are standing at a crossroads of fear and faith. The tension between Israel and Iran has escalated dramatically. Missiles have flown. Threats loom large. The strategic stakes are high, and the emotional toll even higher. And yet, the story of Shelach Lecha reminds us that how we see ourselves deeply affects what unfolds. The challenge of our generation is not so different from that of the wilderness: will we define ourselves by our fears—or by our faith?

Let us be clear: Israel faces real dangers. The Iranian regime funds terror, fuels hatred, and seeks to destabilize not only Israel, but much of the region. But fear must not be allowed to paralyze us. Our response must not be driven by panic, but by purpose. Not by hopelessness, but by hope. Not by shrinking in fear, but by standing tall in faith.

What if, instead of saying “we are grasshoppers,” we chose to say: “We are the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. We are the builders of a nation that rose from the ashes of Auschwitz and plowed deserts into orchards. We are a people who have returned home, not to surrender, but to shine.

In Shelach Lecha, there were two voices that refused to give in to despair: Kalev and Yehoshua. Their message was simple, bold, and eternally relevant: “The land is very, very good… If God desires us, He will bring us into this land… do not fear the people of the land.”

In every generation, we need voices like theirs. Leaders, thinkers, citizens—Jews across the world—who will choose vision over victimhood, action over anxiety. Who will see not only the dangers ahead, but the divine possibilities hidden within them. Let us remind ourselves: the greatest threats we face are not just external. They are the voices within us that say we are too weak, too divided, too small. Shelach Lecha teaches us that such voices must be challenged, not obeyed.

This week, as we read this powerful parasha, let us pray not only for the safety of Israel, but also for the strength of spirit to rise above fear. Let us support those who defend our homeland—not only with weapons, but with wisdom, courage, and clarity.

May we be like Yehoshua and Kalev—brave enough to see the giants and still believe in miracles. Strong enough to walk through fear without letting it define us. And faithful enough to know that with God beside us, we are never truly alone.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen