Shlach Lecha

In the second aliyah of this weeks Torah portion of Shlach, the spies are sent to scope out the land for a period of forty days. We all know the result of this, they came back with mixed reports, 10 negative, to two positive and as a result of this and various other infractions, in the forth aliyah, we learn that the Children of Israel have to wander for forty years.

Apart from the number 7, the number 40 is the most used in the Torah.

According to the Talmud, the number 40 is often used as a round number or as a concrete and definite expression in place of the abstract for example an indefinite "many" or "some," and is therefore a symbolic number.

Regarding the specific period of forty years, the Jews shared with the Greeks, the idea that the fortieth year was the height of man's life and it is from this fact that forty years came to represent a generation.

So let’s look at the forties:

40 Days:

The rain which brought about the flood in the time of Noah lasted forty days and the same period passed between the appearance of the mountain-tops and the opening of the windows in the ark.

For the embalming of Jacob forty days were required.

Moses was without food on Mount Horeb for forty days.

Elijah wandered without food for the same period.

Ezekiel was ordered to lie on his right side forty days, to represent the forty years of the sin of Judah.

Forty days were spent by the spies in Canaan.

Goliath challenged the army of Israel for forty days .

The same number of days was granted Nineveh for repentance.

They also form the period required for purification after the birth of a male, while after that of a female it is twice that number of days although nowadays even amongst Orthodoxy, you are niddah for 40 days after any birth.

40 Years:

Isaac got married when he was forty years old.

Caleb was of the same age when sent as a spy.

Moses, when he was called to become the leader of his people was 40.

The Children of Israel wandered for forty years in the desert).

The same period is given for the rule of several of the judges, and for that of Deborah, as also for the reigns of Kind David and King Solomon.

There are also numerous examples within Talmudic literature and the history of the two Temples.

So what does this mean?

The number 40 in Hebrew gematria is represented by the letter Mem. It is held that the letter itself represents “mayim” which means water. So how does the theme of water resonate within Judaism?

Well, in Jewish theology, abundant rain is an expression of divine blessing and approval, a means of measuring Israel’s commitment to the covenant, and an environment from which life emerges.

So let’s talk about this environment.

Water is inextricably intertwined with life. Covering over 70% of Earth’s surface. Yet despite its widespread presence, clean fresh water is rare, comprising less than 1% of the total. Humanity needs an ethic that places a high value on water.

The world’s supply of fresh water faces serious threats. As the world’s population grows, water use increases, as does sewage-contaminated water, polluted agricultural runoff, and water contaminated from industrial, commercial and residential uses.

In addition, over 880 million people lack access to clean drinking water.

We can also link the letter Mem to three important Hebrew words;

Mi - Who?

Mah - What?

Mahtai - When?

I would like to conclude by positing some questions.

Mi - Who will take care of the water and the environment in which we live?

Mah - What do we have to do to ensure that all people have and will have continued access to clean life-giving water?

Mahtai - When are we going to take this issue seriously?

In this weeks Torah portion of Shlach, the spies spent 40 days in the land. They discovered a land full wonderful fruit and bountiful crops. A land truly flowing with milk and honey. But in order to grow the fruit and grains, the land was blessed with water.

Israel today does not have an abundance of water however due to clever use of agro-ecology and water desalination amongst other technologies, we have enabled the desert to bloom.

We have a responsibility to the ethical use of water or in 40 years from now, water insecurity will have led us down a path of regret.

"Ushavtem mayim b'sason

mimainei hayeshua ."

"Joyfully shall you draw water

From the fountains of triumph?

Shabbat Shalom