Parasha Summary - Shelach Lecha | Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Beit Midrash

Torah Portion and Tanach
Shlach Lecha

קטגוריה משנית

Our Sedra details the incident of the M'raglim (spies) sent to scout Eretz Yisrael prior to Yehoshua's conquest of the land. 10 of the 12 tribal leaders sent to Israel deliver a negative report & declare that Bnei Yisrael is incapable of conquering the land. Only Calev & Yehoshua have a favorable finding, urging the nation to go forward into Israel.

In response to the hysteria of the people, Hashem wishes to destroy the nation altogether, but Moshe successfully intercedes on their behalf. Hashem then decrees a 40-year wandering in the desert, during which this generation will die out. Some of the people regret their sin & they try to then enter Israel immediately (against G-d's will), but are wiped out.

The Parsha then discusses the law of wine libations & the law of Challa, separating a piece of the dough to give to the Kohen. We then read about the incident of the M'koshesh Etzim, who desecrated the Shabbat by collecting wood & was executed. Finally, we read the third paragraph of the Shema, detailing the Mitzva to wear Tzitzit on our four-cornered garments, which help to serve as a constant reminder of Hashem & His commandments.

We bentsch Rosh Chodesh Tamuz (which will occur next Shabbat & Sunday).

The Haftora is "Vayishlach Yehoshua," (Yehoshua 2) wherein Yehoshua – like Moshe did – sends out spies to scout the land prior to its conquest by Bnei Yisrael.