This coming Shabbat's Torah portion, read in Israel on Saturday, June 10, is Sh’lach. This week’s portion tells the story of Israelite spies journeying into Canaan, the negative report they bring back, and the resulting punishment decreed upon the Israelites: to wander and die in the desert over forty years. It ends with laws about sacrifices, the story of a man who desecrates Shabbat, and the commandment to wear ritual fringes. 

This week's thoughts by our popular teacher Dr. Benny Benjamin talks about “We looked like grasshoppers to ourselves”: Self-efficacy as key to achievement. Read it below. 

Last week, our popular Root Source teacher Rabbi Gedalia Meyer talked about "Behaálotcha". Watch it below. 

We are delighted to share our lesson Abraham in the land of Gerar with our teacher Ann Levin. Learn it here. 

We are also delighted to share our lesson Shammai and fixed Torah study with our teacher Rabbi Elan Adler. Learn it here. 

Check below to hear what Dr. Richard Booker and Gidon Ariel have to say. Watch it below. 

We sign off with a nice comment and a beautiful photo of the Dead Sea, Israel. 

Shalom, 

Gidon Ariel and Bob O’Dell  

Root Source Founders

Moses sends scouts to Canaan and all of them — except Joshua and Caleb — bring back frightening reports. The people react fearfully and rebelliously. G‑d decrees a forty year delay until the Israelites will enter Canaan, during which time all males between the ages of twenty and sixty will perish.

“We looked like grasshoppers to ourselves”: Self-efficacy as key to achievement

A dramatic turning point in the Israelites’ sojourn in the desert was the event that prolonged their desert wanderings to 40 years, termed ‘the sin of the spies.’ 

Beha'alotcha:

Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study

Sometimes we just throw up our hands and give up. We don’t like it. It’s frustrating, even humiliating, but it happens. When Israel unjustly pressed Moshe for meat in the wilderness he hit his “I can’t do this anymore” moment. Fortunately G-d stepped in and saved the day. But we are not G-d, and giving up as an admission as much.

Abraham in the land of Gerar

In our first lesson of our course on Fear of God in the Hebrew Bible, we look to the book of Genesis and follow the patriarch Abraham in his travels and travails in the land of Gerar and in Egypt.  The differences between the King of Gerar and the Pharaoh of Egypt will highlight the purpose and the role of fearing God in the Hebrew Bible.

Shammai and fixed Torah study

Watch here as Rabbi Elan Adler talks about Shammai and fixed Torah study. 

Conversations:

Gidon Ariel and Dr Richard Booker

Here are some of the things that Gidon and Dr Richard Booker talked about:

• Modern technology, like air conditioning, is a condition for living today
• The Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast
• The City of David
• Is a remnant getting bigger or smaller?
• God’s omniscience vs the existence of evil in the world and free will
• The devil exercised his free will and rebelled against God. So did King Solomon, who chose 1000 wives over God.
• God is a faithful, covenant-keeping God
• God is outside of time and space
• In Daniel 7:13 it hints at a corporeal Divine.
• Human speech is an amazing miraculous thing.
• In order to be redeemed, God must be “one of us” – a Christian understanding.
• Since every person is created in God’s image, we must love all of us and one another.
• Ninth of Av program in Israel is July 27, contact Gidon for more information www.9-av.com

and much more!

We get so many comments!
Here is one from Christine A Hickey on blog post
Situation Update from the Orbachs in Israel. 

"I truly appreciate this article which informs those of us in the USA. We love and support Israel. I am praying for peace in Israel. May you remain safe and protected."

Enjoy this photo in Masada, Israel by Stamatina Kiriazou