“You shall see…” (Bamidbar 13:18 – 15:39)
In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, when speaking about the spies who spied out on the land, the pasuk says U’ree’sem (13:18), and you shall see (the land). Interestingly, the same exact word is mentioned later, at the end of the Parsha, in reference to seeing the Tzitzis (15:39). What is the connection between the spies looking at the land and looking at one’s Tzitzis?
I would like to share with you an answer that I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita: Moshe Rabbeinu wanted the spies when looking at the land, to look on a deeper level. He wanted them to see beyond the here and now and look into the potential and future, just as we do by Tzitzis. When we look at the Tzitzis, we look way beyond the strings. Looking at the Tzitzis reminds us of Hashem’s glory. The Gemara says that the Techeiles, the blue part of Tzitzis, is similar to the ocean, which is similar to Shamayim, heaven, which is similar to the Kisei Hakovod, Hashem’s throne. That is why U’ree’sem – the word for more profound seeing is used by the land and by Tzitzis.
In addition, here is a fascinating Gematria: Tzitzis is Gematria 600. The shoresh (root) of the word for spying utilized many times in our Parsha is תֻר )Sur( which is also gematria 600! What is the connection between Tzitzis and spying? The Tzitzis are there to safeguard us from prying and spying eyes; to stop our eyes from “spying” out bad things. Our Parsha begins with one type of spying and ends with another type of spying. It starts with the sin of the spies, while the end of the Parsha adjures every person to not to allow their eyes to spy out bad sights and scenes – V’lo Sasuru (and you shall not astray).
I would like to share with you a remarkable story about the power of Tzitzis: There was a young man who was unfortunately diagnosed with a terrible disease. Before receiving his delicate therapy and treatments, the nurse told him that he must remove all his clothes and put on the sterile clothes that the hospital provided. Since the hospital did not provide Tzitzis, the man brought his own, carefully washed and ironed, to meet the hospital’s requirements for sterile clothing.
However, the nurse refused to allow him to wear it, and the man refused to take it off. Having no choice, the nurse sent the man to a seat outside of the ward. A little while later, a doctor stepped into the hallway and asked the young man what he was waiting for. When he heard the problem, he went into the treatment room and came out with a look of astonishment. The doctor looked shocked. The young man asked the doctor why he looked so shaken. The doctor told him “I have spoken with the nurse, and you should go in for your treatment right away; you can keep your Tzitzis on. Afterward, I will tell you what happened.”
The doctor had tears in his eyes when he recounted the events to the young man after his treatments. “I am a Jew who does not yet keep mitzvos,” he told the man, “But now I see that G-d looks over those who do. I went into the treatment room to tell the nurse that it is ok for you to wear the Tzitzis. I then went to look for which treatment you were scheduled for. You were mistakenly scheduled to receive a treatment that would have killed you! It was a mistake, but if you hadn’t insisted on wearing your Tzitzis, you may not be alive now. Refusing to go in saved your life!” The Incredible power of Tzitzis!
Listen to an amazing story https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/parshak/episodes/Hide-and-Seek—The-Real-Truth-in-Life-e252tcv/a-a9uesgk
