Sivan Rahav Meir

PORTION

Extremism Is Not the Solution

וַיַּשְׁ כִּ מוּ בַ בֹּ קֶ ר וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶ ל רֹאשׁ הָ הָ ר לֵ אמֹר הִ נֶּ נּ וּ וְעָ לִ ינוּ אֶ ל הַ מָּ קוֹם אֲ שֶׁ ר אָ מַ ר ה‘ כִּ י חָ טָ אנוּ.

They arose early in the morning and ascended to the mountain top, saying,

“We will go up to the place of which the Lord spoke, for we have sinned.”

(Num. 14:40)

Parshat Shelach is more than just the sin of the spies, which takes up the lion’s share of the parasha. There is also the little-mentioned incident of the maapilim. In modern-day Israel, this word has a very positive connotation and is used to describe the illegal immigrants who resisted the British Mandate that had severely curtailed Jewish immigration and managed to reach Palestine. However, in its original form in the Torah, the word maapilim has a very negative connotation.

Immediately after the long and detailed description about the spies and their lack of belief or desire to go to the Land of Israel, the Torah relates, in seven verses, what followed after the sin and punishment. A group of people feel that they want to right the wrong and go to the Land of Israel. Immediately. They want to run ahead, as if to prove that the sin is a thing of the past. They are going to the Land of Israel to demonstrate that they are prepared for the challenge. Moses warns them that this is not the right way to rectify the sin and, indeed, they are killed in the battle against Amalek.

What can we learn from this incident for our lives? If we have made a mistake, the right way to correct it is not necessarily by going to the opposite extreme. Most of the spies were paralyzed by fear, but showing exaggerated self-confidence in knowing what is the right thing to do will not correct the wrong. Life is more complicated than that.

Sivan Rahav-Meir is an Israeli journalist, currently on shlichut of World Mizrahi movement to the US. She is the author of #Parasha (Menorah Press) and Reaching to Heaven (Artscroll). To receive her daily insight on the portion of the week, text your name to: 972-58-679-9000

SELF EXPLORATION THROUGH Art Therapy

The long isolation, built-up anxieties, fears of an uncertain future and dealing with the loss of loved ones are all parts of the Corona pandemic’s emotional challenges. As an Expressive Creative Psychotherapist, for the past 30 years I have been helping adult patients take control of their lives by gaining insight from their art projects to develop into the unique person that they are.

When emotional troubles reach a level of distress that one can’t handle alone, a professional art therapist can help you contain the pain and redirect negative energies; healing the past and preparing for a meaningful future. We will engage in an exploration of our fears, difficult childhood memories, and how it affects us today—triggered by the Coronavirus pandemic and all it has brought with it. We grow together after appreciating the colors and brush strokes, and learn new ways of accepting ourselves using the Mandala Color Expression.

There is a whole new language of secrets from your unconscious to your modified behavior. It is personal and very individual, and you are the captain of your ship, your life journey. Dr. Scholnick will be there to help with the inner investigation, to direct you to self-accomplishment, with positive therapeutic analysis and insight. You will acquire skills to reach your passion, goals and destiny.

Dr. Scholnick has more than 30 years of professional experience helping adults overcome psychological challenges. She earned her MA in Creative Expressive Psychotherapy in New York, (board-certified ATR) as well as her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Scholnick was the head of various academic Art Therapy programs, and served 17 years as the staff psychologist of a large medical center, working as their guide to avoid burnout and to regain the satisfaction of a gratifying caregiver, despite the stress in the different medical departments.

Dr. Scholnick sees patients in her private clinic in Jerusalem, and offers seminars in French, English, and Hebrew, supervision for health caregivers, and group or individual treatment. For an appointment, please call 055 679 7163