What Were the Spies Thinking? Translating Belief into Action

When the Spies returned from their tour of the Land with the wonderful attributes of Eretz Yisrael, they submitted their negative, pessimistic report, describing how, in their minds, the attempt to conquer the Land of Israel would lead to the destruction of the Jewish people. This of course led to a tragic night of mourning and a rejection of the Divine plan to conquer the Holy Land. As opposed to Kalev, who told the people, עלה נעלה וירשנו אותה – "we will go up and conquer it," (13:30), the spies counter by telling them, לא נוכל לעלות אל העם – "we cannot overcome the nation."
This leads me to wonder, according to the Meraglim, what were the Jewish people supposed to do? While the nation later suggests that they go back to Egypt, we never find any mention of the Spies themselves making that suggestion. If they didn't think that they should return to Egypt, but rejected the possibility of military conquest, what then did the think the Jewish nation was actually supposed to do?
I believe that they never really got that far.
The Meraglim did believe in the importance of Eretz Yisrael as an ideal. After all, if God wanted the Jewish people to be in Eretz Yisrael, who were they to argue? But they saw that belief as independent of any kind of action. They lived in their own Ivory Tower, where they could consider ideas and values without concern for real-world ramifications. To them, belief wasn't necessarily connected to action. The ideal of Eretz Yisrael didn't necessarily mandate doing something to actualize that ideal. How would it happen? Good question – but not one that the Meraglim concerned themselves with.
Yet, nothing can be farther from the truth.
According to Wikipedia, Ideology is defined as,

a set of ideas that constitute one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things (compare worldview), as in several philosophical tendencies (see political ideologies), or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to all members of this society (a "received consciousness" or product of socialization). The main purpose behind an ideology is to offer either change in society, or adherence to a set of ideals where conformity already exists, through a normative thought process.

In other words, you cannot divorce ideology from actions. The Spies had no right to simply say, "Look, we're just telling you what we see. It's not our problem what happens afterwards." Their ideas – and the fear that they spread – had very real consequences, and any attempt to claim otherwise rang hollow.
I've been thinking about this notion of ideology devoid of action, because I recently got myself involved in a minor dispute with Rabbi Gil Student, the author and owner of the popular Hirhurim blog. It all started rather innocently, with Rabbi Student posting a lovely video from Shlomo Katz depicting many nice Kotel scenes, along with the following text:

This is why, despite the many challenges of the State of Israel, I consider myself a Zionist. So many of our prayers have already been answered, but others not yet.

I couldn't hold back, and commented on the blog,

Let me understand correctly: you’re only a Zionist because you believe that our prayers have been answered. And if they weren’t answered, you would not be a Zionist? If, God forbid, we were to take a step backwards, as we did seven years ago, would that make you less of a Zionist? What exactly do you mean? What is a Zionist in your mind – someone who believes that Moshiach has come – or may be coming, or partially has come?
I thought that Zionists were people who believed not only that HKB”H would return to Zion, but that we too would do so ourselves, as He commands us to do. See this week’s parshah for more information. It seems that we throw around the term Zionist without exactly defining what it means, and what obligations it implies.

This led to the following extended discussion:

Rabbi Student: So according to you, someone who makes aliyah is a Zionist and someone who does not is not? Was Rav Soloveitchik a Zionist? Are Rav Schachter and Rav Blau? Were you before you made aliyah? Are your parents? One step backward is just a setback. If there was ch”v another exile, I would stop being a Zionist. I use the term Zionism as describing a belief system. Apparently others use it differently.
Me: Doesn’t a belief system necessarily obligate? Or, is your armchair Zionism the type that sits back and watches while other people build the Land of Israel for you? And those names that you mentioned – all of them worked (the Rav) or work tirelessly to advance the causes of the State of Israel. Your initial comment – and the ones that followed, imply strongly that you are a Zionist because from what you can tell (from nice videos and the like) things are going nicely here (and I infer that you think there’s some level of geulah going on). My understanding of Zionism is one that requires some effort – even from afar, to advance the cause of the Jewish nation.
Rabbi Student: I consider that to be a mistaken opinion. I believe that someone can believe in the Torah without studying it, although he should study it. And someone can believe in God without following His commands, although he should. And he can believe in Zionism without making aliyah, although he should.
Me: I try not to rub aliyah in the face of people who live in the States, but you seem to think that we should honor your life choice as a personal decision with no religious or spiritual implications. When I lived in the States, I acknowledged the tension and the pressure to live in Israel. I was actively involved in AIPAC and other efforts to support the Jewish State. That’s the very least that you can and should do.

Judaism isn't simply a religion of dogma. It's a religion of action. Of course God wants us to believe. But He also demands that we translate that faith into concrete reality on the ground, by learning Torah and following the mitzvot; by creating faith communities dedicated to spreading the d'var Hashem, and yes, by working together to reestablish the Jewish Nation as a ממלכת כהנים in the Holy Land.
Of course God cares what we believe. But He also wants to know, "What are you going to do about it?"

M.Ed. Graduation Ceremony in Rechovot

For the first time ever, Orot Israel College recently held a M.Ed. (Master of Education) graducation ceremony at the Rechovot campus.
The festivities began with a fascinating tour of Rechovot, led by renowned tour guide Elyada Bar Shaul, who focused on the history of the city’s educational system. Following the tour,  some eighty graduates were awarded Masters’ degrees in Tanach and Rabbinic literature.
The graduates and their families were greeted by Professor Rav Neriah Gutel, President of Orot Israel College; Vice President Rav Chaim Saban; Professor Yosef Rivlin, chairman of the academic council; Dr. Shraga Fisherman, academic dean; and Rav Yaakov Margalit and Dr. Miriam Sklartz, the department heads.

To see pictures of the graduation please click here.

Project Elkana: A Unique Opportunity for Orot Israel College’s Educational Counseling Students

By Bella Even-Chen – Lecturer and Coordinator, Educational Counseling Deparment, Elkana Campus

A child with a high fever who nevertheless insists on getting out of bed to go… no, not to the doctor, but to school?! Unthinkable? Well, not in Elkana’s local religious public school, where second-year students from Orot Israel College’s educational counseling department run a special program every Thursday.
Think back to your own school days. Did you ever have a chance to take a real look at yourself? To examine your family’s communication skills? To learn creative ways of dealing with complex social challenges? To participate, on a regular basis, in a small discussion group, where a professional listened, guided, responded, and directed?
If not, don’t feel bad! You’re not alone. Most educational systems leave little – if any – time for “trivialities” like these.
But if you’re one of the lucky few who were able to answer in the affirmative, you probably graduated from Elkana’s religious public school during the past six years and participated in this special program. Known as Project Elkana, the program serves as practical fieldwork for the Orot students.
Every week, each student (or pair of students) meets with two groups of six to eight third graders. During the course of the sessions, the Orot students help the children learn about their own personal character traits, their families’ dynamics, and techniques for handling school and social challenges.
In order to ensure the program’s success, the Orot students devote considerable time and effort each week to planning and implementing a wide range of original and exciting activities. For instance, children with special needs or attention deficit disorders play with various friendly pets – such as rabbits, hamsters, parakeets, and others. As a result, the elementary school children look forward to the weekly encounters and welcome the opportunity to talk about their concerns, frustrations, hopes, and dreams.
One of the program’s highlights is the emotional end-of-year party. The elementary school teachers, principal, and guidance counselor praise the talented and dedicated Orot volunteers, and some of the third graders share their experiences. Small gifts are exchanged, and the college and elementary school students promise to keep in touch.
Mrs. Bella Even-Chen, the project’s coordinator, reports that whenever she meets parents of children who were not privileged to participate in the program, they inevitably ask if the program can be expanded to include their kids as well.
Of course, the children are not the only ones who benefit from this unique program, which serves as excellent training for the young women as they embark on their chosen careers.