Parsha Overview

At the insistence of the Bnei Yisrael, and with G-d's permission, Moshe sends 12 scouts, one from each tribe, to investigate Canaan. Anticipating trouble, Moshe changes Hoshea's name to Yehoshua, expressing a prayer that G-d not let him fail in his mission. They return 40 days later, carrying unusually large fruit. When 10 of the 12 state that the people in Canaan are as formidable as the fruit, the men are discouraged. Calev and Yehoshua, the only two scouts still in favor of the invasion, try to bolster the people's spirit. The nation, however, decides that the Land is not worth the potentially fatal risks, and instead demands a return to Egypt. Moshe's fervent prayers save the nation from Heavenly annihilation. However, G-d declares that they must remain in the desert for 40 years until the men who wept at the scouts' false report pass away. A remorseful group rashly begins an invasion of the Land, based on G-d's original command. Moshe warns them not to proceed, but they ignore this and are massacred by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

G-d instructs Moshe concerning the offerings to be made when the Bnei Yisrael will finally enter the Land. The people are commanded to remove challah, a gift for the kohanim, from their dough. The laws for an offering after an inadvertent sin, for an individual or a group, are explained. However, should someone blaspheme against G-d and be unrepentant, he will be cut off spiritually from his people. One man is found gathering wood on public property in violation of the laws of Shabbat and he is executed. The laws of tzitzit are taught. We recite the section about the tzitzit twice a day to remind ourselves of the Exodus.

Parsha Insights

Shlach Lecha

Complaints Department

“…they shall know the Land that you have despised.” (14:31)

The Gemara (Yoma 9b) states that the destruction of the First Beit HaMikdash was due to the three cardinal sins: idol worship, murder, and immorality. However, the Gemara in Nedarim (91a) cites as the reason for the Temple’s destruction that the Jewish People neglected to make a blessing over the Torah before studying it.

So, which was it?

In Sefer Shmuel Aleph 24:4-5, David spares Shaul's life when Shaul enters the cave in which David was hiding. David cuts off a corner of Shaul's robe to prove that he could have killed him. But he harbored no ill intent. Despite this seemingly insignificant act, our Sages viewed David’s cutting Shaul’s cloak as disrespect to clothing.

And so it was, that when King David was old, despite the many cloaks with which his servants covered him, he could not be warmed. What one does not value, will not stand by the person when needed.

The Gemara in Kiddushin 30b says, "I (Hashem) have created the evil inclination, and I have created the Torah as its antidote."

We are also taught, “The Torah guards and protects." But that’s only when you respect it. When the Jewish People didn't treat the Torah with the proper reverence, by not making a blessing before learning, they lost that protective influence. And, thus, the Torah would not be a protection for them against the three cardinal sins, which resulted in the destruction of the First Beit HaMikdash.

The two reasons are one and the same.

*Sources: based on the writings of the Ishbitzer Rebbe

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