The worst disaster that took place during the Jews’ trek through the desert was the sin of the spies. Because of this sin the nation had to wander in the desert for forty years, and the majority of the generation that left Egypt was thus prevented from entering the Promised Land.
Despite G-d’s promise that the land was beautiful and would be conquered easily, the people asked to send spies to scout the land. G-d reluctantly agreed to their request. Moshe appointed twelve spies, one from each tribe, each one a righteous person. Unfortunately, their righteousness did not last through the challenges of their mission.
When the spies returned from their trip, they brought a dismal account. Although they agreed that the land was special, they claimed that its inhabitants were giants, and that the land destroyed its inhabitants. They felt that it would be impossible to conquer the land. A spirit of gloom and despair encompassed the camp. Although two of the spies, Joshua and Calev, strongly opposed the report of the other spies, the nation became disillusioned and cried that they did not want to enter the Promised Land.
G-d wanted to wipe out the entire nation until Moshe prayed on their behalf. Even then, they were not totally forgiven. G-d decreed that only the next generation, those who were under twenty years old at the time of the Exodus, would be allowed to enter the land. (The Midrash explains that the women were not swayed by the arguments of the spies. Their faith in G-d’s promise was stronger than that of the men. They were thus allowed to enter the land.)
As an assurance that the nation would still enter the Promised Land, G-d instructed them with a few mitzvos that would only apply after they entered the land, such as the mitzvah of wine libations that accompanied different flour offerings, and the mitzvah to separate a portion of one’s dough and give it to the kohain. This is referred to as Challah.
The sin of the spies was that they allowed themselves to be distracted from seeing things with the proper focus. Even if the land seemed somewhat frightening, they should have remembered G-d’s promise to them that He would assist them.
This too is the purpose of tzitzis, the fringes placed on a four-cornered garment. The Torah says that the tzitzis prevent a person from straying after his heart and eyes. The fringes remind a person to live one’s life spiritually, rather than be distracted by one’s physical and emotional urges.
“Do not stray after your heart and after your eyes...” (Num. 15:39)
Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein once witnessed the following scene: There were two stores adjacent to one another in Tel Aviv. One was a small Jewish bookstore owned by a gentle and pious man, and the other was a jewelry shop. The jewelry store was quite busy, while the bookstore would often be quiet for hours at a time.
The bookstore owner’s daughter was once looking through the jewelry store’s window at all the beautiful pieces of jewelry on display. Her father called her over and said, “My daughter, one should not stare at another’s belongings. Every person must learn to feel appreciative for what G-d has given him.”
Rav Zilberstein remarked that with such an education he was not surprised when the girl grew up to marry one of the foremost rabbis of our times, raising a beautiful family of her own.
Did You Know...
One should check the tzitzis on his tallis each day before reciting the blessing, to ensure that the strings are intact and not tangled. If one string on each corner is missing, the tzitzis are still kosher. One should also tighten each knot before reciting the blessing, however, this may not be done on Shabbos.
One should not fold a tallis on Shabbos along the creases, as it is considered a corollary of laundering. One may, however, fold it against the crease, although it is preferable to merely fold it loosely. There is a tradition for a husband to fold his tallis properly immediately after Shabbos.
