Gad and Reuben's Request to Receive Lands East of the Jordan

“Attention, campers and counselors!” the head counselor’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker. “It’s learning time. Please go to your learning groups now.” Mindy’s group sat in the shade of a large oak tree and listened as Simi, their counselor, began. ...

Likkutei Sichos, Vol. VIII, p. 186ff. I. This week’s Torah reading relates that the tribes of Reuven and Gad had many herds. Therefore they spoke to Moshe, saying:Bamidbar 32:4. “The land which G‑d has smitten before the congregation of Israel is a land ...

The Circuitous Route, Defeat of Sihon and Og, The Division of Trans-Jordan

Why the dramatic shift in Moses' view on the Jewish settlement of the eastern territories? If the Reubenites' and Gadites' petition initially struck him as reminiscent of the sin of the Spies, what convinced him to endorse their plan and even expand on ...

It was the tribes of Reuven and Gad that requested to settle in the land east of the Jordan; but in this week's Torah portion, half the tribe of Menasheh also receives their portion on the other side of the Jordan. Why?

Sometimes the question is raised whether the Torah scholar is “escaping” from the real world.

The tribes had put sheep first, then children. But can it then be that that they actually loved their sheep more than their children?

Gad's battle victims were readily identifiable. With one fell swoop of the sword they would cut off the head together with the arm. The ability to strike such a blow is an indication of tremendous lion-like strength.