1. The Sin of the Spies: A Lack of Trust
The parasha this week discusses the episode where Moshe sends out scouters to explore Eretz Yisrael. These scouts return with a negative report, insisting that Bnei Yisrael will not be able to conquer the land. As a result, Hashem punishes the generation with forty years of wandering in the desert until that entire generation passes away, and only their children merit to inherit the land. At the very beginning of the parasha, the Torah hints at the root of their mistake. The second word is shlach lecha—send for yourself. Hashem tells Moshe, “You send them.” Hashem had already promised to bring Bnei Yisrael to a land flowing with milk and honey; they should have trusted Him without needing further investigation.2. Moshe’s Reluctance and Rashi’s Analogy
Rashi comments that even Moshe Rabbeinu was not eager to send these spies. He hoped that by giving them permission, they would trust him and Hashem’s promise, just as in Rashi’s analogy: if someone is buying a donkey and asks if it can go up mountains or down into valleys, and the seller says yes each time, it shows confidence in his product. Similarly, Moshe thought that if he allowed them to scout, they would realize there was nothing to fear and simply trust in Hashem’s word. Unfortunately, Bnei Yisrael did not take this hint; instead, they insisted on sending scouts.3. Lessons About Trusting Hashem
The lesson from shlach lecha is that Bnei Yisrael should not have questioned Hashem’s promise after all they had witnessed—the miracles in Egypt, sustenance in the desert, receiving the Torah, traveling with the Mishkan—they should have simply followed Hashem without doubt or hesitation. Their desire to “scout” for themselves led them astray. Sometimes when we insist on verifying everything ourselves instead of trusting what we know is right, we risk making mistakes.4. The Forty Days and Divine Kindness
The Torah says that the spies traveled for forty days across Eretz Yisrael—a significant journey covering great distances quickly. Rashi explains this was actually a kindness from Hashem: He made their journey swift because He knew they would be punished one year for every day spent scouting. Limiting it to forty days meant limiting their punishment to forty years—enough so that those who were twenty at the time would pass away by sixty.5. Personal Reflections: A Modern-Day Scouting Journey
I recently experienced my own “scouting” trip—not forty days but about forty hours! I traveled quite a distance: first attending my nephew’s wedding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday night, then flying down for my son’s rabbinic ordination graduation in Boca Raton, Florida last night. When I returned this morning and went through security, even the agent commented on how much I’d been flying around! This whirlwind trip gave me an opportunity to reflect on both physical and spiritual journeys.6. Spiritual Eretz Yisrael: Observing Jewish Life Across America
Just as there is a physical Eretz Yisrael, there is also a spiritual one—places of Torah learning and vibrant Jewish life wherever Jews gather. In Pittsburgh I saw a flourishing Chabad community with impressive buildings and schools. In Florida I visited for the first time a magnificent shul in Bell Harbor filled with activity and outreach programs—a testament to Chabad’s global reach.7. The Impact of Outreach and Leadership
What moved me most at my son’s graduation was seeing how these new rabbis are not just leaders for those already religious but are actively reaching out to others who may be distant from Judaism. My son learned with people throughout the year who are not observant yet set aside time to study Torah together—a truly inspiring sight! One speaker shared how coming closer to Judaism through Chabad helped him recover from personal tragedy and find new meaning in life.8. Dedication: Lessons from Heshi Glick’s Father
I dedicate these words in memory of Michal ben Shilam Halevi (Mr. Heshi Glick’s father), whose yahrzeit—anniversary of passing—is tonight. Heshi’s father exemplified what it means to be a true Jew: he didn’t ask too many questions or look for excuses; he simply did what was right—attending shul faithfully and ensuring his children continued our tradition as committed Jews. May his neshamah—soul—have an aliyah—elevation—and be a blessing for his family and all of us as we strive to follow his example of simple faithfulness and dedication to Jewish life.