Quick Thoughts on the Parsha

When B’nai Gad and B’nai Reuven initially ask to inherit the land on the other side of the Jordan, Moshe is furious. He responds, לָ֣מָּה תְנִיא֔וּן אֶת־לֵ֖ב בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֵֽעֲבֹר֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם השם, “Why do you discourage the children of Israel from crossing over to the land which the Lord has given them?” This is quite a heated reaction. What is at the core of Moshe’s frustration? In the verses that follow, Moshe compares their request with what the meraglim, the spies, did. We see that Moshe is fundamentally concerned that B’nai Gad and B’nai Reuven’s request is not only a rejection of the land, but that it is also the beginning of national discouragement. When the meraglim discouraged the people about the land, it destroyed a generation. Moshe cannot see that happen again, and so he is furious with B’nai Gad and B’nai Reuven and wants to put an immediate stop to their inclination. Fortunately, they heed Moshe’s words and agree to fight with their brothers and enter into the land regardless of which side of the Jordan their inheritance is on. From this exchange, we learn how gravely or positively our actions can impact others. Even when we do not think others will notice or be impacted, how we hold ourselves affects the morale of those around us. Today, reflect on who looks to you as a leader, as a role model. To whom do you look? How are you a positive influence, a kiddush Hashem, on those around you?

--Rabbanit Alissa