The Majority Are Not Always Right
Adapted from Rabbi Braun’s sermon in 5772
Very often it is difficult to be in the minority. In the world of orthodox Jewry and the world of the rabbinate centrist orthodoxy is in the minority. Very often I sense among people and at times even amongst rabbis within our community a certain religious and spiritual inferiority complex regarding our place and positions within orthodoxy.
To that I would respond, stand firm in your principles and beliefs; being in the minority does not mean that you are wrong!
And I can prove that to you from today’s parsha!
The major episode in today’s parsha is the sin of the spies. Every year it becomes more difficult to find new meaning and new aspects of the story. I glanced through a couple of books on the parsha and numerous articles and we have been there and done that. Then it hit me – the greatest lesson was staring at me, literally jumping off the page of the text.
The episode of the spies was one of the momentous turning points in the history of the Jews. The tragic nature of the episode delayed entry of the Jewish people into the land of Israel for 40 years and resulted in an entire generation of Jews dying in the desert.
It is the story of 12 great Jewish men, princes of their respected tribes. They each formed an opinion on a matter of great importance- and at the end of the day 10 were wrong, dead wrong and only 2 were right.
There is no question at all in this case, God was the arbiter, God kills the 10 spies immediately while because of their noble actions and correct attitude and perspective, Caleb and Joshua are the only ones that will enter the land. That is all explicit in the text.
It is so basic that we almost fail to notice it. But it is so fundamental that we dare not gloss over it. 12 great men weighed in, 10 were wrong and 2 were right. Indeed, being in the minority does not mean that you are wrong.
Yet it is challenging – because that fact that you are right does not mean that anyone will respect or believe you.
Why didn’t the people believe and side with Joshua and Caleb?
That is a fascinating question and I believe that there are a number of answers. I would like to highlight one offered by the Or Hachayim, in his commentary to our parsha.
In chapter 13 verse 30 Caleb tries to counter the report of the spies. He quiets the people and tells them that we will go up and inherit the land and we will be successful. The Ohr Hachayim points out that there is one detail that requires explanation in the verse. It actually reads ויהס כלב את העם אל משה. Caleb quiets the nation toward Moshe. Why does Caleb involve Moshe? Why not just know that he is right and take on the people?
Because Caleb understands that one person cannot possibly quiet 600,000 and convince them that they are wrong. Moshe is the king, the supreme leader; maybe he can do it but an ordinary person no matter what the stature will not succeed.
The Ohr Hachayim is even more explicit in chapter 14 verse 10. Caleb and Yehoshua had just told the people that the land of Israel is wonderful and good and that with God’s help they will conquer the land. The people’s response is fantastic- they try and stone Caleb and Joshua and are only stopped by the divine cloud descending to protect them.
Here he asks the question explicitly. Why wasn’t Caleb believed in chapter 13 and why are Caleb and Joshua not believed in chapter 14?
He explains that the people did not believe Caleb because one witness is not believed against multiple witnesses. Why then did they not believe Joshua and Caleb? Didn’t they understand and know that the testimony of two witnesses is not any truer than 100 witnesses as the case in Jewish law?
He attempts a technical answer to solve that as well – Joshua was disqualified because of his closeness to Moshe.
While I appreciate the attempt to protect the people- it seems that the answer is actually quite simple, the people did not understand that 2 have the same power, the same claim on the truth as 100. They saw 2 against 10 and went with the majority, and they were wrong!
Consider the following modern day example that is uncannily and eerily familiar to the biblical story that we just read.
In the late 19th century there was a movement, a first aliya to Israel. There were a few orthodox rabbis who called on Jews everywhere to support this movement and join with these pioneers, these chalutzim to build the land of Israel and return Jews to our land.
The overwhelming majority of orthodox Jews and rabbis were against the Zionists. They argued that this was not the time to go. This was not going to work.
Then came 1948 and even after that while there were more orthodox rabbis supportive of the state and many of whom believed that this could be the beginning of a redemptive and messianic era.
Again, the overwhelming majority of orthodox rabbis were against it. They failed to see the hand of God leading a process of having Jews conquer and settle the land of Israel.
Although the episode with the spies is certainly more clear-cut and obvious I would extend the final parallel.
Being in the minority does not mean that you are wrong.
