Delivered: June 1, 2013 by Al Kohn
Parashat: Sh’lach L’cha – Numbers 13:1 – 15:41

At the insistence of the children of Israel, and with God’s’ permission, Moses sends twelve scouts, one from each tribe, to investigate Canaan. Anticipating trouble, Moshe changes Hoshea’s name to Joshua, expressing a prayer that God should not let him fail in his mission. They return 40 days later, carrying unusually large fruit. When ten of the twelve scouts state that the people in Canaan are as formidable as the fruit, the men are discouraged. Caleb and Joshua, the only two scouts still in favor of the invasion, try to bolster the spirit of the people. The nation, however, decides that the Land is not worth the potentially fatal risks, and instead they demand a return to Egypt! God is angered by this attitude, but is eventually placated by Moshe’s fervent prayers. However, He declares that the nation must remain in the desert for 40 years until the men who wept at the false report of the scouts pass away.

A remorseful group, regretting their previous mistake, rashly begins an invasion of the Land based on God’s original command. Moses warns them not to proceed, but they fail to heed this warning, and are massacred.

It appears that they did not learn from their mistakes.. and were punished for not having complete faith in God and in Moses’ leadership. Again Moses had to intercede in their behalf and apologize to God . This is coming to be a recurring theme: people complain and turn away from God. God threatens to destroy the people, Moses goes to the Almighty in behalf of the people to save them.

Back in Exodus God was displeased with Aaron’s rebellion in Moses’ absence. While Moses was away, Aaron fabricated the Golden Calf. God interrupted Moses’ sojourn on Mount Sinai to send him down to berate the Chosen People, on his behalf. In fact, God was so angry, his first inclination simply was to be left alone so his “wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them.” He probably would have done so, but for Moses’ heroic intervention. At Exodus 32:9, God famously states: “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.”

In Exodus 33:3, God is describing the people again as stiff-necked. God is saying to Moses how he will drive out the Canaanites, and a half dozen other miscellaneous tribes, from the land of Israel. “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you in the way, for you are a stiff-necked people,” In 34:9, Moses apologizes to God saying, “If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thy inheritance.” God or Moses are probably wondering what part of “Thou shalt not” don’t the people understand?

So I’m going to address us as being a stiff-necked people. Significantly, having a stiff neck is the only description of the nature of the Jewish People found in the Torah. We also know one other thing about our physical characteristics, that is, God wanted for the males to be circumcised. So, I suppose one way to identify a Jew back then would have been to look around for circumcised males with stiff necks.

Many commentators believe “stiff-necked” refers to more of a character trait, or personality characteristic, such as being argumentative, opinionated, stubborn, aggressive, internally combative, and divisive. While this has negative connotations, I believe it also can be seen in a positive light. For example, it might promote the development of a distinct self-image, and creating in us the “survival” desire/gene. Not all other peoples have this same self image. After all this is 5773 in the Jewish calendar, so we’ve been around for a while. Or to steal a line from Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” song, “if I can make it in Canaan, I can make it anywhere.”

Did you ever know any Jews that were not opinionated? I believe that of all these traits :argumentative, opinionated, stubborn, aggressive, internally combative, and divisive, the most favorable one to have is being opinionated. But that’s just my opinion.

It is good to have an opinion of something. Having fallen in a situation where you need to place your points and your ideas, you must do it. You can call such a person as opinionated. Not giving an opinion at certain times is also in a small sense being opinionated. Yes, it is because the person being influenced by a particular reason does not feel the need to place an opinion at that particular time.

Thus in general or rather in a bigger sense we can assume that it is a good thing to have an opinion and be opinionated. But there can be a negative aspect to be opinionated as follows:.

If someone is placing his/her opinion in certain situations and that opinion is driven by a sense of false-pride, an idea of increasing one’s own importance or even with an ego or an adamant attitude of sticking to one’s own point of view, then such an attitude cannot really be called as being opinionated, or rather this would be a false perception of being opinionated.

We will come across a number of people who simply want to stick to their ideas or point of view. They are not at all willing to bend down if at all there are proved to be wrong. Their sole purpose is to display their influence on others. Many others might not be placing their opinions with such intentions, but they are so stubborn that they fail to think beyond their self-serving, my way or the highway attitude. Even they cannot be called as ones who are truly opinionated.

One whose ideas and opinions are driven and influenced by truth and not mere emotions of self-pride are the ones who can be called opinionated in a most positive light. They would be placing their opinions with a view to benefit others. At certain times, even if they are wrong they would sportingly accept their mistakes and work upon their false-beliefs to search for what is truth. They would be placing their opinions to enlighten. They would be ready to accept positive ideas from everyone around and keep others’ interests in view before taking any decision. I would call such a person as one who is opinionated in a most positive light. Such should be the character that all of us should be striving for.

Everyone is not perfect. Here are my personal guidelines that I try to follow:

• Try to be a good listener
• Keep an open mind when making decisions
• Place opinions that will benefit others
• Place your opinions with humbleness. Yes with humbleness
• Keep an attitude of accepting criticism and suggestions
• Be responsible for your actions
• Apologize when necessary and say you’re sorry
• Continue to learn from friends and older adults
• Do a good deed from someone who will never find out
• Be a good loser and a good winner
• Don’t nag and gossip
• Don’t rain on other peoples’ parades-don’t interrupt others
• Try to keep your promises

So, have an opinion but strive to be a mensch: a person of integrity and honor, someone to admire and emulate, and one of noble character. But that is just my opinion !! Shabbat Shalom!