Shelach parsha: Holding God accountable

After the Jewish People commit the sin of the golden calf, God declares, “Va’achalem” (I will destroy them [the Jewish People]; Exodus 32:10).

Moses intervenes. Challenging God, he asks, “Why, O Lord, would You do this?” (Exodus 32:11).

Responding to Moses’s challenge, God changes His mind. “Va’yenachem Hashem” (And the Lord renounced the punishment; Exodus 32:14).

Soon after, God offers the Thirteen Attributes of Divine Mercy: “Hashem El rachum v’chanun” – “The Lord! The Lord! a God compassionate and gracious” (Exodus 34:6). Perhaps God is telling Moses, If ever I fail to be true to these characteristics, challenge Me; do everything you can to nullify the decree.

After the spies return with a negative report about Israel and the Jewish People also express their distaste for the mission to enter the land, God declares, “Akenu” (I will smite them; Numbers 14:12).

My son, Dr. Dov Weiss, suggests that Moses, as per God’s request, holds God accountable and invokes the thirteen attributes. “Hashem,” Moses declares, “erech apayim v’rav chesed,” O Lord, but in the thirteen attributes, You said that “You are slow to anger and abounding in kindness” (14:18).

Here, Moses quotes God back to God, making God accountable. He makes this point by insisting, “Selach na la’avon ha’am hazeh k’godel chasdecha” (Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to Your great kindness), and God responds, “Salachti ki’devarecha” (I pardon, as you have asked; 14:19, 20). Moses had impacted God – his challenge produced positive results.

It is extraordinary that the intense give-and-take of selach and salachti between God and Moses becomes central to our liturgy during the Selichot services of the High Holiday season. In fact, these sentences are quoted immediately after the recitation of Kol Nidre on Yom Kippur night. On the very days when we are expected to do better, we respectfully and lovingly turn to God and ask that He, too, improve His ways.

Candle lighting:

Shelach parsha

June 16 at 7:56 p.m.