Shelach Lecha: I (Sort Of) Forgive You

Introduction

After the sin of the spies’ false reports, God wants to destroy the Jewish people once and for all.  Moses intervenes on their behalf, and God says, “I have forgiven in accordance with your word.” This powerful statement, salachti kid’varecha, is featured prominently in the Yom Kippur and Selichot prayers.  But when one compares the story of the spies with the earlier national sin of the golden calf, real questions emerge about how complete or not this forgiveness really is.

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Credits
Larry Kluger – Creative Consultant
Arlene Harel – Production Coordinator

Leon Morris

Rabbi Leon Morris is President of Pardes and the first Pardes alumnus to lead the institution, having studied in both the Year (‘94-’95) and Summer (‘93, ‘94) Programs. Ordained by Hebrew Union College in 1997, Leon previously served as rabbi of Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor, founding director of the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center in Manhattan, and Vice President for Israel Programs at the Shalom Hartman Institute.

Leon has taught at Orthodox, Conservative and Reform institutions and has worked extensively with the Jewish community of India since serving there as a Jewish Service Corps volunteer in 1990. A regular contributor to the Jewish, Israeli and American press, he is also an editor of the Reform High Holy Day machzor Mishkan HaNefesh.