Shlach

“Send forth men, if you please, and let them spy out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Children of Israel...” -Sh’lach 13:2 The parshah relates the story of the spies sent by Moses to investigate the Holy Land which the Jewish People were to enter. Th...

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...

“Dinah,” Mrs. Levine called her daughter from the kitchen. “Please straighten up the bedroom that Aunt Chayah’s children slept in. Shifi will help you when she finishes her homework.” Dinah’s cousins had spent a week with the Levines. “It was a lot of fun...

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...

We often get stuck with the familiar, afraid to make necessary changes outside our comfort zone.

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.