It's not our responsibility to complete the task, but that doesn't mean we stop trying!

Every USY convention I ever attended included rousing song sessions.  After Shabbat dinner, Shabbat lunch, Seudah Shlishit, the bentchers would be brought out and people would compete to introduce and sing songs.  Shtick was part of the fun and stories would be told of the origins (real or not) of the various songs.  One of those songs can be connected to our weekly Torah portion.

Before connecting it to the parsha, let’s practice it together:

Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor Lo alecha ligmor V'lo ata ben chorin lehibatel mimena V'lo ata ben chorin  Sheyibane beit hamikdash, sheyibane Sheyibane beit hamikdash, sheyibane Bimhera b'yamenu, sheyibane Bimhera b'yamenu, sheyibane Sheyibane hamikdash

It's not for you to finish the task But you are not free to cease trying May the Temple be speedily built in our days

Shlach Lecha is about the sending of the spies to see the Promised Land.  Not listening to instructions, they failed at their task.  Rather than bringing the people to Israel, they caused the people to die in the wilderness.  The peoples’ obstinance prevented them from seeing the possibilities.  They let fear rule them instead of cautioning them.

Our haftorah on the other hand shows more successful spies.  They find partnership even with one whose role seems less than perfect.  Rahab was an innkeeper, but her other business was the world’s oldest profession.  The spies could have ignored her based on her reputation, but they saw that she was an honest woman, who would not betray them.  They saw through the exterior and looked at the truth within.

Knowing our Torah and knowing our Bible, the book of Joshua sees the successful conclusion of our journey.  While the book of Judges shows the conquest was complicated, Joshua teaches us that success is possible.  He also teaches that this success can be built upon the shoulders of giants.  Joshua was not Moses. He did not try to be, yet he was able to do what Moses could not--lead the people into Israel.

This lesson is just as true to us today.  We are able to accomplish so much, because of those that came before.  At our board meeting this week, we talked about our shul’s past and our future.  We discussed the values that brought us through the door and the lessons we would like to teach,  

At the end of the day, we can accomplish much, but we will not accomplish EVERYTHING we set out to do.  That’s exactly the way it is supposed to be.  It is not our job to complete the task, but we must not cease from trying!  Shabbat Shalom!