The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Fear of Failure (Shelach Lecha, Covenant & Conversation)
Jun 17, 2025
Delve into the intriguing tale of spies sent to explore the promised land, revealing how their conflicting reports shaped a generation. Discover the layers of fear versus freedom in this biblical narrative. Explore the spies’ deeper fear—not of failure, but of losing their spiritual connection with God. Uncover the challenge of integrating spirituality into everyday life as a central tenet of the Jewish mission.
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Fear of Success Over Failure
- The spies feared success more than failure because success meant leaving their intimate divine wilderness life.
- Judaism aims to bring God's presence into the real world, not retreat from it into isolation.
Judaism's Earthly Mission
- Judaism uniquely seeks to bring heaven down to earth, integrating holiness into everyday life.
- This mission requires building a just society with law, dignity, and care for all, not isolation.
Spies' Spiritual Fear
- The spies doubted not their military ability but feared spiritual loss by abandoning the desert's divine closeness.
- Their error was to reject becoming a nation engaged in the challenges of real-world society under God.