בס”ד
By Rabbi Tuvia Serber In this week’s Torah reading we learn about the spies that were sent to the Land of Israel. They came with a report that generated a big rebellion against Moshe and God and, as a result, God decided that all people would wander in the desert for 40 years. What was the problem with the spies?
Parshat Shelach begins with a dramatic and pivotal episode in the Torah: the story of the spies. This parsha is titled Shelach, meaning “Send”, as G-d instructs Moshe Rabbeinu to send emissaries—twelve respected leaders, one from each tribe—to scout out the Land of Israel.
The Mission and the Report
These were not ordinary men. The Torah describes them as “kulam anashim”—great individuals, leaders of their respective tribes. Their mission was not to question the value of the Land, but to assess its geography, its inhabitants, and the best way to enter and conquer it.
Upon their return, the spies brought back stunning evidence of the land’s richness: enormous fruits and a report that affirmed it was truly “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
But then came the twist.
Ten of the twelve spies added a frightening detail: that the inhabitants of the land were giants, warriors of immense strength. They claimed it was impossible to conquer the land—even going so far as to imply that not even G-d could bring them in. This report sparked fear, despair, and ultimately, rebellion among the people.
The Consequence of Fear
The result was catastrophic. The Israelites cried out to return to Egypt, rejecting the destiny G-d had promised. G-d decreed that the generation which left Egypt—everyone aged 20 to 60—would not enter the Land of Israel. They would wander in the desert for 40 years until that generation had passed.
This tragedy occurred on the 9th of Av (Tisha B’Av), a day that would later become a day of national mourning throughout Jewish history.
According to tradition, on each Tisha B’Av during those 40 years, the people would dig their own graves and lie down in them. Each year, those who were meant to die would not wake up, and the rest would move on.
What Went Wrong?
We are left with a powerful question: What went wrong? These spies were not evil men. They were spiritual giants and tribal leaders. How could they fall so far?
A simple answer might be: they lacked faith. After all, the Talmud teaches that they said even G-d could not bring them into the land. But the Chassidic and Kabbalistic tradition offers a much deeper insight.
The Spiritual Temptation of the Desert
The spies didn’t want to remain in the desert because they were lazy or afraid of work. On the contrary, they were drawn to the spiritual purity of desert life. In the wilderness, they were surrounded by clouds of glory, fed with manna from Heaven, and drank water from the miraculous Well of Miriam. Life was sustained directly by G-d.
Spiritually speaking, it was perfect. There was no need to plow, sow, or toil. They could focus on study, prayer, and connection to the Divine—uninterrupted by the noise of material life.
They feared that entering the land would mean descending from this lofty, spiritual state. Working the land, dealing with politics, economics, and daily survival—these would distract them from their spiritual goals.
A Generation of Words
This is why they are sometimes referred to in mystical texts as “the generation of the Midbar”—the desert. The Hebrew word midbar (desert) shares a root with dibur (speech). They were a generation of words—spiritual, elevated, abstract.
But G-d didn’t create the world for words alone. He created the world to be transformed.
From Mysticism to Mission
The ultimate purpose of creation is not to escape the physical world, but to enter it fully and make it holy. That is the meaning of “entering the land”. The spies failed to embrace this mission. They wanted to remain in the spiritual heights of the desert, but G-d’s plan was for heaven to meet earth.
Therefore, they could not fulfill their role. A new generation would be needed—one willing to live in the land, work the land, and reveal G-d in the land.
The Lesson for Us
This story is not just about ancient history. It’s a timeless lesson.
We all have moments when we prefer to remain in our comfort zones—studying, thinking, talking, meditating. But G-d asks more of us. He asks us to do.
You may love someone, but unless you express that love through actions, it remains abstract. Likewise, our connection to G-d must be lived through mitzvot, through acts of kindness, and through engaging with the world in a sacred way.
It is not enough to dwell in words. We must walk into the land and make it Divine.
Call to Action:
As we reflect on Parshat Shelach, may we have the courage to leave behind spiritual complacency, embrace the challenges of the material world, and transform it into a dwelling place for G-d.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
The above is a representation of the spoken text converted to written text.
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