Last month I was lamenting the end of an era as one of the TV shows I enjoyed, “Around the Horn” came to an end after over 22 years on ESPN. 

What I particularly loved about “Around the Horn” was that sportswriters from all over the country would debate the major sports topics of the day, often times quibbling with each other, and occasionally saying something a bit absurd. 

There was a scoring system on the show that often made no sense, but one aspect that did was that if someone made a statement or prediction and it turned out to be wrong, the next time they were on they would receive negative points for their statement thereby making them accountable.

In our Torah portion this week, Sh’lah L’Kha, Moses famously sends in 12 eminent leaders to the land of Canaan to give a report on the land, so the Israelites would know what they were up against in conquering the land. Ten of the 12 tribes come back and report that the people in Canaan look like giants compared to us and we essentially have no chance to defeat them and live in the Promised Land. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, related a different report. They felt that, particularly with God’s help, the Israelites would be able to be victorious over the Canaanites.

The reaction from our people is predictable. If 10 out of 12 spies return with a report of doom and gloom, it is a natural human reaction to believe the majority. Moses and Aaron are besides themselves because the people, even after all of this time, still don’t trust that God will help us conquer the Promised Land. 

God appeared and after some negotiating, it is determined that this generation of Israelites, minus Joshua and Caleb, will not be allowed to enter into the Promised Land. Many believe that we end up wandering in the desert for a longer period of time because of this moment and story of the generation who left Egypt still not trusting in God.

We are taught throughout our texts and history to both take time to understand a situation and not give into a mob mentality, and to see the positive in what even may appear to be difficult situations. This is the exact message for our parsha this week.

Back to “Around the Horn,” often times the journalists debating the topics would try to rally people to their side, even if it was an outlandish opinion. While sports does not compare with our survival as a Jewish people, the show itself is a reminder to really take time to understand what is happening around us. We are a society today of instant gratification, and more often than not, we believe the first thing we hear in the news, in particular on social media. Our Torah and tradition, as well as a simple sports show, remind us to check the facts, take time to really see what the news is, rather than only following one source, or believing one post on social media. We can learn from our ancestors to do better in our society, and not become hysterical so quickly.

Shabbat Shalom!