from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
June 5th 2026 -Volume 16 Issue 32 20th of Sivan 5786
Parshat (Behaloscha II)/ & Shelach
Making it Home
(LAST WEEK'S ONLY below…)
Click here below for print edition
( weekly newsletter Parshat Beha'aloscha edition )
There's something going on here in the air that I've been noticing more and more lately. It's getting stronger and stronger and it's becoming harder and harder to ignore. My friends call it "Mashiach energy" or "Geula spirit". To me it almost feels like watching that ball coming down on Times Square on New Years Eve, the sand dripping down fast in that hourglass, or the last few seconds of the Nicks game championship. That's the energy I'm feeling here in Israel. That's what we're breathing in the air.
There is this unbelievable tension all around. There's a pressure as we're about to leave Egypt. Something big has to becoming. People are doing teshuva. Soldiers are wearing tzitzis and yarmulkas. Kids are in public schools as well. Hilltops are being conquered by 15-year-old kids and Arabs are fleeing and fencing in their communities for security. Our soldiers are sitting on borders we've never had before. The Litani, we're back in control of 70% of Gaza, of the Chermon. The land is being conquered and liberated- despite that was never our intent. The Har Ha'Bayis and visits to there- which I'm too small to say whether it's legitimate or not or to take a side in issue, but it's happening. More Rabbis are saying to go. Rav Shmuel Eliyahu of Tzfat said they should build a shul there. After all if they can play soccer there why can't we daven?
Aliyah is seriously on the table and podcasts and discussions of everyone, whether for reasons of rising anti-semitism- which is not the reason to move here- but hey… it's better than staying and being killed there. More Rabbis are pulpitting about it. I made up that word. It's like ploppling, but just from the pulpit… More jobs are opening up, more schools for Olim and yeshivos. Klal Yisrael no matter where they are are certainly not looking at serious long-term stay in galus for much longer.
At the opposite end of that extreme it seems the Satan also feels that tension. He's upped the ante to an extreme. Really?! Arresting Yeshiva boys in their houses for learning Torah? That's Bar Kochva Roman Greek Antiochus stuff. It's crazy. Demonstrations. Spitting on soldiers. Falling government and elections. A supreme court that is insane, blatantly corrupt and double standard. We have fake cease-fires. Fake peace accords. Enemies that are still refusing to give up their mission to destroy us and allies that can't make up their mind from day to day what a victory should look like. Soldiers dying daily, missiles and drones still dropping and a seemingly neutered army and leadership that is taking its cues from a president that can't make up his mind from one minute to another. The Satan is doing all he can do make us fight, protest, give up hope, settle for less, dig into galus- not bring the geula. That's the air we're breathing and I can't remember that type of tension since our first time coming back here. Since 3000 years ago when we were about to enter the land. The Parshiyot we're reading this week.
Behaloscha is the beginning of our journey it is the three-day journey away from Israel. We're almost there. We're almost redeemed. Shelach is the end of the story of why it didn't happen. In between those two stories is a parsha bifnei atzmo- it stands by itself. It's the smallest parsha in the Torah and our sages tell it is a book in of itself. That's not just homiletically. It's a halachic concept. If there's a fire burning on Shabbos one is generally forbidden from saving items from it as the Rabbis were concerned one might violate Shabbos by putting it out or carrying the items in a biblically forbidden manner. Yet, for a Torah scroll that has the 85 letters that this "book, that is encircled by two upside down letter "nun"s one can save it and violate the rabbinic decrees that generally apply. Interestingly enough the number 85 in gematria is peh- mouth or poh- here. There's something here that we need to uncover, something we need to speak about. It's everything…
So let's talk about it. We all know the verses by heart. We sing it when we open the aron. Va'yehi bi'nosoa aron- and when the ark travels… Moshe says Hashem should rise up and get rid of our enemies… and the second verse is U'vanucho yomar- and when the ark rests Return the tens of thousands of Israel. The hidden parsha that changes the tide of our history and where it all goes downhill is the story of the travel of the Ark of Hashem or the Ark of the Covenant as Rashi tells us right before this. From here we go to the complainers, the Kivros Ha'taiva- graves of desire, the complaining about the manna, the quail, and ultimately in this week's parsha for us in Israel already this week the spy's debacle and finally the death of the ma'apilim- the ones that went up without permission afterwards that were killed by Amalek. That's the process. That's where we are until today.
Amalek first meets us when we leave in Egypt. They show up here again in the form of the Emori (as it says in Devarim). They come because the Aron HaBris is not in our midst. Because Moshe is not there with us. Isn't it amazing these two bookmarks? It starts with Moshe telling us that the aron habris has to be with us, and even tells Hashem – va'yomer Moshe- that He needs to slow down the Ark from that three day run to Israel because it always has to be with us. And the end of the story is the Emori- like the word va'yomer attacking those that went up without the Aron. Without Moshe. That's where the story ends.
The truth is it starts with that first attack of Amalek when we left Egypt. There Moshe goes out to the hilltop and raises his hands. We need to see Moshe. He has to be with us. He is like the Aron. Rabeynu Bachya tells us that when the verse tells us the reason why the ma'apilim were killed is because the aron ha'bris and Moshe –
lo mashu mi'kerev ha'machaneh- that the Ark and Moshe didn't move (mashu-like Moshe) from within the camp.
This is to teach us, he writes, that the Ark and Moshe are compared to one another. They're equal. One and the same. And we need either one or the other, if not both to bring us into the land. To chase away our enemies. To finally rest and return the tens of thousands of Israel to Hashem and to His land. They're the Mashiach energy.
There's something fantastic that struck me about the Aron HaBris- the ark that was different than what I always thought about it. In general, in the yeshiva world we always connect the Ark with Torah. In yeshiva we connect everything with Torah and its study. Yet, amazingly Rashi here and the Chazal he quotes repeatedly note something more significant and a different perspective about the Ark, then I've ever had. The note that what is most important about the Aron is that the shivrei luchos. The broken tablets. Not the ones that Hashem gave us a second time. Not even the ones that even had anything perhaps even readable left on them. It's not about the Torah even. Rather, it's about the memory of these broken tablets. It's a reminder of what they stand for. That's what we need to take with us. That's what will bring us to Israel. That's what the Ma'apilim forgot.
What are these broken tablets and what do they symbolize? The broken tablets signify and remind us of our failure and our new understanding. They tablets were shattered because the people desperately wanted to come into the land. They needed a guide. They needed a replacement for Moshe. They needed a Waze. An engine that would drive them there.
We didn't realize it was Hashem that took us out Himself. We thought it was all Moshe. We believed that we weren't holy enough, that Hashem wasn't really into us enough, that we were worthy of being able to do that on our own connection with Him. With His love for us. So we went for something fake. Some gold cow. We were wrong. Fatally wrong. Because if we don't believe Hashem could rest in us, then guess what? He won't. Then the Torah itself will just be another golden calf, another means of connecting to Hashem through an intermediary, rather than as a tool to reveal that inner spark and fire that already burns inside of us. And thus they had to be broken and shattered.
Hashem's response was that if we can't imagine Him within us then he will stay out. He'll forgive us, but He's staying out. He'll send an angel. He'll send Bibi. He'll send someone to set up a Jewish state, that won't last. Because He's not going to be able to build a home in every yid and dwell His presence within us if we don't think we can handle Him. That we're worthy of Him.
It was then when we woke up and said that's not enough. We want You within us. We want the second tablets, but they will sit next to the first tablets to remind us that they should never serve as an alternative. They should be there to remind us always that it's not about having a "Jewish State", that it's about conquering a land, that it's about having the fish and cucumbers of Egypt. It's about building Him a Home. It's about having Him in our midst. It's always staying connected to Him. It's returning to the garden. Shuva Hashem.
Yet, the most amazing and mind-blowing idea is what follows the story of the ma'apilim- the ones that tried to go up without Moshe and the Aron Ha'bris. Because after-all what did they really do wrong. They told Hashem they sinned (again as it says in Devarim). They wanted to do teshuva. They wanted to go up ha'hara- to that mountain. The mountain that Meraglim were sent to go to and build a house for Hashem. The mountain that Avraham brought his son to sacrifice on the altar there. The same altar where Noach first sacrificed his offering. The same altar that Adam brought that first sacrifice on. They went up there willing to be moser nefesh- to give their lives and fight Amalek and wipe them out. They said we want to fight the battle Hashem told us to. Yet, it tells us Hashem didn't listen to them. He didn't hear their voice. Why not?
The reason is because they didn't have those broken luchos with them. They didn't say the one thing that they should've said that perhaps could've turned the whole thing around. When Moshe told them that Hashem said that they couldn't go because He was not with them. They went anyways. They forgot the message of the broken luchos. What they should've done is tell Hashem, as they did by the Eigel- that they want Hashem to come in with them. They want the Ark to come with them. They don't want to wander. They don't want Him not to have a Home for 40 years. They want Hashem to come in with them. To live with us. That's what the broken luchos was supposed to tell them to do. Yet they went on their own.
It's amazing that we find many times- not just by the Eigel, that when Klal Yisrael turned to Hashem and said we want You, that your gezeira- isn't good for us or for You, that it worked. In fact it's the story right before these two nuns and sefer of Pesach Sheini. The ones that were tamey, said "lama nigara"- why should we lose out. We want to bring the offering. We want you Hashem. When they accepted Hashem, and bowed to His will then it worked! Hashem let them bring Pesach Sheni. As well remarkably we find this in the story of the daughters of Tzlafchad, the one who is the Mekosheish Eitzim- the stick gatherer who's story follows this story, asking Hashem for their portion, that they were technically not entitled. As well it works! They're allowed to have a portion. All we need to do, is include and bring the aron habris with its broken tablets into our request. Into our journey. We can't do it on our own. But the second that we turn to Hashem and are mevatel our da'as to Him, we could've gone in. The ma'apilim didn't need to fall.
That is actually and exactly the next verse that follows their tragic death and failure. Hashem tells Moshe to tell us that it will be when we come into the land. What!? Did I miss something? I though Hashem just said that we're not coming into the land? What's going on? The answer is that we could go into the land. The decree is changeable. It was changeable. We just need to ask Hashem for the Aron to come with us. That He should be with us. But to do that we have to feel worthy enough. We have to see that fire that He put in us when we complained by the misoninim burning brightly. We have to know the He is already within us. That we're His children. That He's our Father. That we need to have a home together.
The mitzva that represents that is the nesachim. Until then one only poured wine on a communal sacrifice. We may have only been and thought ourselves as Nesichim- princes when we are together as a community. In the land of Israel though Hashem tells us, we are all obligated to bring nesachim. We are all princes. We all have wine. We all have grapes, that were planted, pruned, stepped on squeezed and fermented. We all have that royal elixir to bring to Hashem. We're all His children. Each one can have Hashem in their midst. Then we can be redeemed.
Amalek, the Satan, our enemies feel that we're getting closer to that moment. They're job is to give our grapes that last squeeze. The world is dictating to us what we can and can't do. There are forces amongst us that are like the complainers, that are crying about our depression, our trauma, our long journey that's speeding up. There are others that aren't ready to give up their desires and Egyptian cucumbers or meat-boards, or even the holy Torah they're learning in the Exile. At the other end there are those that are trying to go up without the humility. Without Hashem. Without seeing what the Torah wants us to do. There are those that are scared of giants and White Houses. Of what the nations will say. If we're even worthy to have Hashem amongst us. The one common denominator that lies between these two nuns- is that they're about external circumstances defining our agenda and our ability. We're not hearing Kaleiv and Yehoshua telling us Hashem is within us. We can. He will. We are. It's hearing that voice that will bring us in. It's that voice that the Satan is trying to drown out.
Rav Asher Freund once said, I can take all of the miskenim- the nebachs, the pitiful forlorn out of the beit misheguaim- out of the asylums that they're in. The only problem is that they're not willing to give up their miskeinut- they're not willing to give up their pitiful state. They are misoninim- they are defining themselves by their tragedies, by their sad situations, by their galus, by their inability to overcome. They don't see or feel that Mashiach energy. They haven't drunk the l'chayim of Nesachim. But it won't be much longer. Because as I said. It's in the air. It's time. I'm thirsty. Aren't you?
Have a purposeful Shabbos
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK
" Vet moshiakh geboyrn vern mit a tog shpeter." – (What’s your rush?) So the messiah will be born a day later...
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
2. According to the Bible, the Tabernacle where Hannah prayed was located in the settlement of _______ ?
Which kingdom is the governor's house at Tel Beth Shean related to?
A. Egyptian
B. Assyrian
C. Babylonian
D. Hittite
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK
https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/eretz-tu-bishvat – In honor of the Eretz Yisrael love parsha… My song which is the tikkun of it all Eretz Yisrael! Dovid Lowy on vocals and arrangements… listen till end it's fun!
https://youtu.be/XLocQT7rs68?si=M8-g54tUX-_CMKcC - Eitan Katz's latest release… what a song… really the only person I think that always hits it on the head… this is his ITI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc18bHzDOIM&list=RDQc18bHzDOIM&start_radio=1 Yoni Z- Latest Release G.E.U.L.A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSSjuXP30cM – Love this best of Mona instrumental medley can you name them all?
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
Making Miracles Happen- 350 BC- Perhaps one of the most important stories that not too many people know is the story of this building of the second Mikdash and it's message for us today. In a nutshell review. Cyrus allows us to start building the Temple and then it halts. Achashveirosh totally puts a quash on it. When Darius his son comes into power the prophets tell them to restart it even without his permission. They do. They don't his permission. It's ours. It's for Hashem. Don't worry the prophet tells us. Take the first steps and Hashem will do the rest. And He does.
After a few months of their building messages go from Israel and it's non-Jewish governors back to Darius about the rebuilding. They tell him that the Jews are rebuilding permanent stones. Sure they have wood inside in order to take it down if they ever rebel. That was the command of Cyrus. But still wasn't it halted. Who says they should be building? Darius gets the message and asks to see the original letter of Cyrus. Yet, would you believe what happened. It seems that it got misplaced… They couldn't find it. Yet, he wasn't satisfied. He sent messengers back to Media and there they found the original documents. It said we could build and thus he gave us his permits.
When his advisers and State Department complained, claiming it would upset our neighbors in the Middle East, that it would lead to us rebelling. That we were being occupiers. That previous administrations- such as his father's refused and even halted it's construction. Darius, perhaps inspired by our actions turned the tables on them. He told them that Achashveirosh never permanently banned it. It was a temporary hold. And he ordered that we should be assisted in our building. We should be sent offerings, money construction material. Persia/Iran wants to help us build the Bais Ha'Mikdash. It just needed to start with us taking the initiative. With us not waiting for our permits. If we stand up and take that dive, then they will follow. We will be their light. We will not be waiting for them to lead us. Because Hashem's house can only come when we are ready to make it happen. And when we are then we need to do it. No questions asked. And then no one can stop us.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE FAILURE JOKES OF THE WEEK
What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate!
A husband shows his wife a study which indicates that on the average men use fifteen thousand words a day, whereas women use thirty thousand. The wife thinks about this and then tells her husband that women use twice as many words as men because they have to repeat everything they say.The husband turns from the paper and says, "What?"
Describe failure in two words? I can't.
We should've known about the failure of communism. In retrospect, there were a lot of red flags...
""Never fear failure, always embrace it." My mom said as she released me from her hug.
What was Genghis Khan’s failure of a brother named? Genghis Khan’t
What do you call a cow that's stopped producing milk? An udder failure.
Not everything on the Titanic was a failure. The pool is still full to this day.
A plane carrying Donald Trump made an emergency landing in New Orleans after alleged engine failure over the Gulf of Mexico. Turns out there was just a loud whine coming from the right wing
George Soros- the notorious Jewish anti- Israel Billionaire woke up in the hospital after surgery he had to undergo on his visit to Israel. He asked, “Why are all the blinds drawn in here?”
The nurse answered, “There’s a fire across the street and we didn’t want you to think the operation had been a failure.”
Whenever I used to feel sad for any failure, my dad would tell me..
"Don't worry son, keep trying. Sky is the limit for you."
I will never forgive the old man for ruining my chances of becoming an astronaut.
A 5 year old boy was in kidney failure.
Dad: "Son, I'm sorry, but your kidneys aren't working anymore."
Son: "it's gonna be fine, dad."
Dad: "I know...we can start dialysis and get you on the donor list."
Son: "I was actually thinking about just asking for my adult knees early.". (It took me twice… but actually its pretty teef… if you think about it…)
I created a Reddit competitor. It's failure was poetic, given its name: Blue-it
Why was the baseball stadium in Poland a huge failure? Pretty much anywhere you sat you were behind a Pole.
A moth goes into a pediatrist’s office, the pediatrist asks the moth, “what seems to be the problem?”
The moth responds, “My whole life is a mess. My marriage is in shambles, my daughter married this guy who I despise and who despises me, my son is a wretched failure, which only reflects my own failures.”
Understandably confused, the pediatrist asks “that all sounds truly awful, but I’m a pediatrist, what is it that brings you to *my* office?”
The moth says, “oh, the light was on.”
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The answer to this week's question is A– It's nice when you have an easy Jewishish question. Everyone knows Chana is in Shilo… right? You don't even need a Rabbi Schwartz tour for that. On the other hand I don't know how many of you have been to Beit Shean. The truth is even those that were there at the ancient Roman capital city in the Jordan Valley, probably never made their way up the Tel to the Top where the Governors's mansion from the pre- Israel Egyptian period reigned here. I've been there once in my tour guiding course and it's not worth the shlep up in the hot Jordan Valley. But I got it right So the test continues with Rabbi Schwartz having 1.5 points and the MOT having .5 points on this latest Ministry of Tourism exam.
