The ten “meraglim” (spies) are often described as cowards and defeatists, as those who dedicated themselves to the fears of the people of Canaan:

Various commentators went far out of their way to condemn their defeating despair and lack of leadership. But what was the actual fear of the spies? What left them frozen in terror?

We talk about the “nesi’im” (presidents), heads of the tribes, seasoned leaders that have seen a thing or two in the world and experienced God's grace with His people in the wilderness. They witnessed big miracles and heard God’s promise for the people of Israel to inherit the land. What frightened them so much? What made them give up?

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneorson, the Lubavitche Rabbi, argued that the spies were not afraid of defeat nor of failure, but actually they were afraid of victory.

While in the wilderness they were under God’s providence and guidance. God provided them all their needs, the pillar of fire and clouds of glory accompanied them on their journeys, enabling them to be spoiled children.

The Israelites in the wilderness, as stubborn and ungrateful as they were, lived a very protected life as embryos in the womb of their mothers. God gave them manna and kept them safe. God fought for them and allowed them to remain passive.

When the spies had a glimpse at the life in the land of Israel, they witnessed a completely different reality - they saw people who work for their living, with their sweat they brought bread from the earth, built their homes, maintained and took care of them.

The spies were suddenly exposed to the vulnerability of human existence and got scared. They saw the inhabitants of the land subjected to the harm of nature, to the anxieties of existence, to drought, disasters and invasion of enemies.

The spies understood that they themselves were frightening the local inhabitants.

In “Shirat Hayam” (song of the sea) it says:

The nations were trembling from the power of the Israelites who were marching towards them, accompanied by immense divine power, not the other way around.

Maybe the spies were sensitive and realized that? Maybe they envisioned the bloody future wars and their horrific outcomes? Maybe they wondered about the meaning of sovereign life that requires endless decisions, also realizing the much needed responsibility and integrity, that demands loyalty and humbleness?

If so, it was not the fear of failure but of success, fear that may cause arrogance and opacity.

The writer Marianne Williamson wrote:

This fear is justified and even necessary and worthy of recognition. But it cannot paralyze us neither as individuals nor as a nation.

The fathers and the mothers of Zionism dealt with it when they chose to leave “the wilderness” and build a country.

The State of Israel succeeded beyond measure and beyond all expectations in so many ways, and now, we should think about the danger accompanying success, about the threat of such power.

Our justified fears are the grasshoppers, as well as the fears of the giants, representing the dangers of existence, that cause us to oppress others.

Maybe the best way to deal with fear of being weak and fear of being mighty at the same time is by acknowledging them and by believing that they can be recruited in order to do good in the world.

If we will acknowledge the fact that the fear of those who face us is different but at the same time very similar to ours, if we insist not to look at the fears neither as grasshoppers nor as giants and instead we lift our eyes, we might find out that although we are a post traumatic people, in every possible way, we can put aside our own fears and the need to frighten others and we can have a healthy sovereign life within ourselves and healthy relationships with our neighbors.

Not grasshoppers and not giants - human beings, loving and longing, fearing and inspiring.

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