By Rabbi Moshe Vosoghi
Parshat Shelach relates an extremely unfortunate incident in our nation’s history. On the verge of entering and conquering Eretz Yisrael, the Jewish people asked Moshe to first send out spies to scout out the land, so we will know what we are up against. And although Hashem did not agree with this plan, Hashem allowed it to proceed, cautioning that since this plan was not according to Hashem’s will, He will give the spies ample room to falter and fail. And indeed, disaster struck when the Meraglim brought back a terrible account about the Land of Israel. “Giants, pestilence, a land that destroys its inhabitants,” they claimed. And the people accepted the report without question. The sin of the spies has echoed through the generations, and we, today, are still feeling the weight of their deed.
Reb Yechezkel Levenstein points out that this path of destruction started with the original decision to send the spies. However, asks Reb Yechezkel, what sin was there in sending spies into a foreign nation? We find no command in the Torah, nor any directive from Hashem, forbidding such an act. In fact, Hashem Himself said, “If you want, send!” Why, then, has the Jewish nation been punished for something that is not a sin? To this, Reb Levenstein answers, many times middot and mussar tell us certain things should, or should not be done. This is true even though they are not obvious sins, there is no clear halacha against them, and you will not find a pasuk in the Torah saying that it’s not ok. Nevertheless, the spies, and Klal Yisrael, should have known they could be, and should be better. And this non-aveirah was indeed the beginning of their downfall. The Shulchan Aruch is only one component of our Avodat Hashem — we must remember to be vigilant about our middot as well.
Shabbat Shalom