Moses did not command the spies to bring back grapes in particular, but just "fruit", and we find that they brought back various fruits - grapes, pomegranates and figs [v.23]
So why does the Torah stress that "It was the season when the first grapes ripen" and not simply, the time when fruit was ripening?
The process of spying out the Land to conquer it represents our daily mission of evaluating how to advance the "conquering" of this physical world for G-d, through the most effective use of time and resources for Torah. Verse 20 concludes that the goal of this process is represented by grapes: grapes are unique in that their seeds are visible through their skins, and this teaches us that the goal of our observance is to make the physical "skin" of this world transparent to its higher, spiritual purpose.
Source: Based on Sicha of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shabbos Parshas Shelach 5750
3 comments:
Beautiful, as well as the picture.
Devorah, did you hear that Alon Nava had an accident. I heard he fell. Do you know if this is True?
I did read something about that, but haven't heard anything since then. Videos are still being uploaded to You Tube, so am assuming he is okay.
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