Eight Words
“Life is about trying, about making a move.” - Michal Oshman
“Life is about trying, about making a move.” - Michal Oshman
As we journey through the vicissitudes of life, we are faced with myriad challenges which help us to build our resilience towards continuing the journey in a healthy way. Sometimes though, we come to a circumstance where we say: “This is too much. I cannot do it. It is simply too challenging.” It takes a hero, a brave soul, to say: “No matter the height, the mountain - we will climb.” It takes a hero to take on the challenge and scale the mountain.
When I was in high school, one of my teachers had a motto, which I had utterly despised - “I can’t is not said here.” While it may have been annoying at first, it taught me that when faced with a challenge, it may be popular to say I can’t, but you will only succeed when you say I can.
The meraglim journeyed to the land of Canaan to scope out the land. They came back with reports of how much of a challenge it would be to live in the land. They made a big commotion and aroused a fury amongst the people. The Torah tells us that Calev was able to quiet everyone down for a brief moment. He then said the following eight words:
עלה נעלה וירשנו אתה כי־יכול נוכל לה
“We shall surely ascend and conquer it, for we can surely do it!”
Rashi teaches1 that Calev was saying that we have no reason not to listen to Moshe, after all he took us out of Mitzrayim, split the sea for us, and fed us the manna. Even if Moshe would have said to take ladders and climb to the heavens, we would listen and we would be successful. Rav Moshe Dovid Vali elaborates that we would be successful because this is part of Hashem’s plan. We are not doing this for us, we are doing this for the Shechina.
The other spies responded with the following words:
לא נוכל לעלות אל־העם כי־חזק הוא ממנו
We cannot ascend to that people, for it is stronger than us.
The crowd erupted in further anger, threatening to pelt Yehoshua and Calev with stones. Hashem punished them that they would not be able to go into Canaan, instead they would die in the desert. Only Calev and Yehoshua will be able to go in.
Calev’s brief statement changed his destiny and the destiny of his family forever.
To take on a challenge, no matter how many naysayers there are and how perilous it may seem, is to change your destiny.
When we say “יכול נוכל” - we are surely able, we are then able to achieve the impossible and say “עלֹה נעלה” - we have surely overcome and arisen above.
“During our lives, we come to many bridges. Some rise above a great abyss, and crossing them truly requires courage. But there are many smaller bridges that we don’t always recognize as such… As you look to better your life, don’t just look out for the big, heavy, iconic bridges to cross. Look for small bridges, beautiful bridges that were built with care, bridges that blend in with the scenery, all the little bridges that make up your life. When you see these bridges and cross them, you’ll be living a life of “doing,” where action replaces fear.” - Michal Oshman, What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?2
When faced with a challenge, what eight words will you say as you cross the bridge?
Based on Gemara Sotah 35a
Michal Oshman, What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid? Pg 83
Beautiful!
As the Torah warns us against the concept of happenstance, as in מקרה, the weapon of Amalek. We too are warned against falling into the humdrum of life. Things that are bad will always be bad, we get used to thing, the רגילות. In a weird way we hold on to that, afraid that things can change, we dont want to be let down. We know that the underlying message of the spies was they wanted to keep things status quo, boiled chicken for life mode. Afraid to meet new challenges, they wanted to be in control. They were called מרגלים because that's what they wanted to do, keep things the same, no pain...no pain. But we should welcome challenges and see it for a chance to grow. Gulp!!!