Post-modern religion focuses more on individual psychology and inspiration than obedience to authority. Yet our earliest religious texts reflect their roots in a world when religion and obedience to its authorities were a matter of life and death. This week’s Torah portion, “Shlach-L'kha” (Numbers 13:1-15:41), dramatizes this difference through narrative, commandment and legal precedent. What lessons can it provide to understand our past, and our present?

Rabbi Adam Chalom, Dean for North America of the IISHJ (www.iishj.org) and Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation (www.kolhadash.com) leads the exploration of this Torah portion.