(Video) Shelach: Confidence in the Divine

by Rabbi Zvi Leshem

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.

Shelach: Confidence in the Divine

With Rabbi Zvi Leshem

This video was published ahead of Shabbat Shelach in Israel, June 6, 2026. The video for Parashat Beha’alotekha is available here.

This video is part of a series of videos with brief divrei Torah inspired by “Divrei Halev: Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Torah Portion” by Rabbi Ronald Price. This video features Rabbi Zvi Leshem, Director Emeritus of the Gershom Scholem Collection at the National Library of Israel. We look forward to featuring members of the UTJ community and others in presenting future divrei Torah.

During the video, Rabbi Leshem mentions letters from Rabbi Halivni to Professor Uriel Tal. A link to those letters is available at https://utj.org/viewpoints/press/hebrew-rav-halivnis-letters-to-professor-uriel-tal-after-the-wars/.

Divrei HaLev and many other books may be purchased through the UTJ website at https://www.utj.org/viewpoints/books.

All videos in this series will be available at https://utj.org/viewpoints/modern-judaism/remembering-rabbi-halivni-zl/inspired-by-divrei-halev/ and in our Youtube playlist “Divrei Halev.”

For more material by and produced in memory of Rabbi Halivni, visit https://utj.org/viewpoints/modern-judaism/remembering-rabbi-halivni-zl/

* UTJ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Please support UTJ by following Amazon links on our website and then making purchases on Amazon. Note that purchases do not need to be of specific items listed on our website in order to generate revenue for UTJ.

Enjoying UTJ Viewpoints?

UTJ relies on your support to promote an open-minded approach to Torah rooted in classical sources and informed by modern scholarship. Please consider making a generous donation to support our efforts.

Donate Now

Kimelman – Avot – Slider – video 1 available – (1340 x 650 px)

Beha’alotekhaShelah Divrei Halev Slider (1340 x 650 px)

RDWH Yahrzeit 5786 – Slider(1340 x 650 px)

Slider Post Session 3 – Kimelman – Amidah (1340 x 650 px)

Slider – Were Converts a Caste Apart (1340 x 650 px)

Is Chanukah a Halakhic Problem – video slider (1340 x 650 px)

Video slider Yismah Libeinu Launch (1340 x 650)

Video Slider – Reflections on Tisha B’Av (1340 x 650 px)

Video Slider – Bite Your Tongue (1920 x 1005 px) (1340 x 650 px)

See All of Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem's Articles

About Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem

Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem made Aliyah in 1979. He studied at Yeshivat HaMivtar and was ordained by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He holds a PhD in Jewish Thought from Bar-Ilan University. He is also an ordained scribe. Rabbi Leshem directed the Gershom Scholem Collection for Kabbalah and Hasidism at the National Library of Israel from 2011 until his retirement in 2024. He previously served in senior positions in Jewish education and as a community Rabbi. His research focuses on Hasidism, Jewish Education, Gershom Scholem and the postmodern religious thought of Rav Shagar. Rabbi Leshem was a close student of Rav Halivni zt"l for almost fifty years. He and his wife Julie live in Jerusalem. Their six children and many grandchildren live all over Israel. Rabbi Leshem is the author of Redemptions: Contemporary Chassidic Essays on the Parsha and the Festivals (2006). Many of his academic and rabbinic articles are available at https://nli.academia.edu/zvileshem.