Shlach

The Sidra of Shelach contains the episode of the spies whom Moses sent to gather intelligence about the land of Canaan. Ten of the twelve spies returned with disparaging reports, that although the land was fertile, its inhabitants were too strong and thei...

This week’s Torah reading relates that Moses sent spies to explore the Land of Israel before the entry of the Jewish people. They returned with a frightening report, telling how the inhabitants of the land were giants whom they feared they could not conqu...

Adapted fromSefer HaSichos 5749, Vol. II, p. 536ff;Sefer HaSichos 5750, p. 517ff;Sichos Shabbos Parshas Shelach, 5745 A Pillar of Our Faith The Rambam writes:Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Teshuvah 5:2-3. Every person is fit to be righteous like Moshe our teacher...

Introduction This week’s Torah reading contains a passage that – at least on the surface – appears out of context. After relating the story of the spies Moshe sent to survey Eretz Yisrael and discussing the offerings that the Jewish people would be requir...

Introduction In Judaism, there is a dynamic interplay between making a commitment to G‑d and His commandments that transcends reason and serving Him with our minds and using them to guide our conduct. At times, the emphasis is on faith and following His l...

Introduction There is a classic Jewish adage: It took one moment to take the Jews out of Egypt but 40 years to take Egypt out of the Jews. Developing a free man’s mentality takes time. The story of the spies sent by Moshe to survey the Land of Israel show...

The fourth section of the Book of Numbers recounts how G‑d told Moses to send (Shelach, in Hebrew) scouts to spy out the Land of Israel in preparation for the Jewish people’s conquest of it.

The passage entitled Shlach relates how 12 individuals were sent to spy out Eretz Yisrael. Upon their return, the spies — except for Calev and Yehoshua — told the people that the land would be impossible to conquer, thereby rousing the people’s wrath agai...

The Torah portion of Shlach relates how Moshe sent 12 individuals to spy out Eretz Yisrael. This was done in order to find out the best and easiest wayRamban on the beginning of Shlach. of conquering the land,Bamidbar 13:18-19. and also to obtain more inf...

The passage entitled Shlach relates how Moshe sent 12 upstanding individualsRashi on Bamidbar 13:3; based on Tanchuma, Shlach 4; Bamidbar Rabbah 16:5; Zohar, Vol. III, p. 158a. to spy out Eretz Yisrael. The spies returned from their mission and reported t...