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Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

וישכמו בבקר ויעלו אל ראש ההר לאמר הננו ועלינו אל המקום אשר אמר ד' כי חטאנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5776

They awoke early in the morning and ascended toward the mountain top saying, “We are ready, and we will ascend to the place of which Hashem has spoken, for we have sinned. (14:40)”

The nation was chastened. They now realized that they had overreacted to the slanderous news conveyed by the meraglim, spies, and that they must do something to repair the rift created by their sins. Nonetheless, there is a time and place for everything. They had forfeited their chance to enter Eretz Yisrael. Without Hashem’s mandate and leadership they could never conquer the Land. Now was not the time. Some people simply do not understand the meaning of “no.” A group of Jews decided to prove that they were willing to move on, to wage war against the inhabitants of the…

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Home -> 5776 -> Shelach

והיה לכם לציצית וראיתם אותו וזכרתם את כל מצוות ד' ועשיתם אותם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5776

It shall constitute Tzitzis for you, that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem and perform them. (15:39)

We are to wear Tzitzis, so that when we look at them, we will remember all of the other mitzvos in the Torah. In other words, wearing Tzitzis generates mitzvah observance. “Seeing” catalyzes remembering, which engenders positive action via religious observance. Indeed, the Rambam writes that one should be diligent in his observance of Tzitzis, because of its compelling effect vis-à-vis all other mitzvos. In his commentary to the Chumash, Rashi writes: “The parsha of the mekosheish eitzim— he who had transgressed Shabbos by picking twigs and carrying them in a public place– is juxtaposed upon the parsha of avodah…

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Home -> 5775 -> Shelach

שלח לך אנשים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5775

Send forth men, if you please. (13:2)

The Baal HaTurim makes an interesting observation which gives the reader an opportunity to pause and question. The letters at the end of the three words: shlach, lecha, anashim are ches, chof and mem, which spell the word chacham, wise man. This spurs the Baal HaTurim to say that there was Heavenly instruction concerning the quality of the person Moshe Rabbeinu would select to be among the meraglim, spies. He was to be a chacham, wise man. These men were Nesiim, Princes, of each shevet, tribe. It, thus, makes sense that they were individuals not lacking in wisdom, and they…

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Home -> 5775 -> Shelach

ויקרא משה להושע בן נון יהושע

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5775

Moshe called Hoshea bin Nun Yehoshua. (13:16)

Rashi explains that Moshe Rabbeinu added the letter yud to Hoshea’s name, thereby transforming it to Yehoshua, so that his name would begin with Yud-Kay, the letters of G-d’s Name. The Hebrew name, Yehoshua, means, “G-d will save.” Moshe was praying that Hashem would spare his primary student, Yehoshua, from falling under the mutinous influence of the spies. Chazal give a number of reasons that Moshe singled out Yehoshua over Calev. Surely, it was not favoritism. Moshe was concerned that Yehoshua’s extreme humility would get the better of him and not permit him to stand up to the meraglim. Alternatively,…

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Home -> 5775 -> Shelach

ויקרא משה להושע בן נון יהושע

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5775

Moshe called Hoshea bin Nun, Yehoshua. (13:16)

One needs only to open up the Chumash, peruse the words of commentary found in Chazal, and study our turbulent history, to observe that Eretz Yisrael is not only a special land – it is ours – as bequeathed to us by Hashem. The subject should be closed. Nonetheless, throughout the millennia, there have been those who have taken umbrage with this position, laying claim to the Holy Land for which they have no right. We have suffered and have been persecuted to preserve our legacy of ownership… and, we will persevere, if we remember that Hashem gave us the…

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Home -> 5775 -> Shelach

ואמרו אל יושב הארץ הזאת שמעו כי אתה ד' בקרב העם הזה. ועננך עמד עליהם ובעמוד ענן אתה הלך לפניהם יומם ובעמוד אש לילה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5775

And they will say about the inhabitants of the Land, “They have heard that You, Hashem are in the midst of this people… and that Your cloud stands over them, and that in a pillar of cloud You go before them by day, and in a pillar of fire at night.” (14:14)

The above pasuk underscores Hashem’s overwhelming love for the Jewish People, as perceived by the gentile nations. While it is unquestionably true, their perception of His love is interestingly based on a vision of chesed, kindness, which, albeit impressive, requires elucidation. “You, Hashem, are in the midst of this people”: The nations are impacted by Hashem’s close relationship with us. How do they see this closeness? What unique manifestation of love impacts them most? “That Your cloud stands over them, and that in a pillar of cloud You go before them”: The Ananei HaKavod, Clouds of Glory, protected the Jews…

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Home -> 5775 -> Shelach

כי לא פרש מה יעשה לו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5775

For it had not been clarified what should be done with him. (15:34)

They knew that one who profanes the Shabbos is put to death. They were just unclear as to the nature and procedure of the execution. In an alternative exposition, the commentators state that actually they were well aware of the type of execution which is meted out to a mechallel Shabbos, one who desecrates Shabbos. Nonetheless, they were uncertain as to what to do with the mekoshesh eitzim, the man who gathered wood on Shabbos. Why? It seems that the mekoshesh’s intentions were noble. He wanted the people to realize the seriousness of Shabbos desecration. They should know that one…

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Home -> 5775 -> Shelach

ועשו להם ציצית על כנפי בגדיהם לדרתם...וראיתם אתו וזכרתם את כל מצות ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5775

They shall make Tzitzis on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations…that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem. (15:38,39)

The Eliyahu Rabbah (Ohr HaChaim 24:3) quotes, “It is found in the Rishonim that, whoever passes the Tzitzis over his eyes during the recital of Krias Shema, is ensured that he will not become blind. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, writes that he was questioned by an ophthalmologist concerning this segulah, talisman, that protects from blindness. How does it work? What reason is there? Rav Zilberstein explained, quoting the Chida, who explains why Egypt was struck with the plague of Choshech, darkness. The Egyptians “closed their eyes,” made themselves forget the good fortune which they experienced with the arrival of Yaakov…

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Home -> 5774 -> Shelach

כלם אנשים ראשי בני ישראל המה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5774

They were all distinguished men; heads of Bnei Yisrael were they. (13:3)

There are many episodes in the Torah which are not easy to explain; yet, we try to explain them. The chet ha’meraglim, sin of the spies, is an aveirah, collective sin, which begs elucidation. Once we understand the sin, acknowledge its ramifications, and prepare for the consequences of its actions, we still must focus on its origin. Why did we act this way? What compels us to sin? How have we changed? Much has been written concerning the chet ha’meraglim. While the actual sin has been addressed, the “why” needs to be explained. These were no ordinary men. These were…

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Home -> 5774 -> Shelach

ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Shelach, 5774

We were like grasshoppers in our eyes, also we were in their eyes. (13:33)

Probably the most common catalyst for sinful behavior is low self-esteem, which is often the precursor of depression. While depression alone is not a sin, it leads one to commit the most egregious transgressions. When one thinks ill of himself, he has little reason to act positively. After all, who cares? This, explains the Kotzker Rebbe, zl, was the motivation for the sin perpetrated by the meraglim, spies. They felt worthless; they had no chance of overcoming such a strong nation. Their negativity was infectious, causing the entire nation to feel bereft of their leadership. They all began to cry….

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