The covenant between the Land and People of Israel began the moment G-d told Abraham, “Go forth from your land…to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).  From the very start, the relationship between these two was full of hardship because Eretz Yisrael is acquired through suffering (Talmud Berachot).  Before Abraham had succeeded in setting down permanent roots in the Land, he was already compelled to leave the Land due to a famine.  Isaac was commanded never to leave the Land, yet he too did not have an easy life here.  The Philistines committed acts of sabotage and terror against him.  Sound familiar?  Even Jacob had to flee the Land due to his brother Esau.  When he returned from Laban’s house and sought to dwell in tranquility, he was overcome by the crisis involving Joseph.

Despite the trials and difficulties, the patriarchs remained faithful to the Land not only during their lifetimes but in death as well.  Jacob thus commanded his sons, “Bring me to my fathers, to be buried in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite” (in Hebron) (Genesis 49:29).  Joseph did the same, making the Israelites swear that they would bring up his remains into the land sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The first ones to undermine the faithfulness of the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael were the spies. The question arises, what was the sin of the spies?  It cannot be that the sin was the very fact that they were sent.  On the contrary,  we find the use of spies against the enemy camp in many places. For example, it says, “Moses sent out men to spy on Ya’azer” (Numbers 21:32).  Likewise, Joshua as well sends out two spies to see the Land and Jericho.  Regarding Gideon we find that G-d sent him to spy on the Midianite camp to hear what the Midianites were saying so as to be in a stronger position to attack them (Judges 7:11).

Therefore, Ramban (Numbers 13:2) does not view the actual sending of the spies as the sin.  On the contrary, he writes; “This is reasonable counsel for all occupying forces.  The Torah does not advise relying on miracles in all that one does.  Rather, it commands that soldiers, once detached, cautiously lay in wait for the right moment to attack.”

If the sin was not in the spies being sent, then what was it?  Ramban further refines the question.  Seemingly the spies spoke the truth and the report they issued was appropriate to what they had been commanded to find out.  They had been asked to see if the soil was rich or weak (Numbers 13:20) and they answered that it was rich, and that it was a land flowing with milk and honey.  To the question of whether the Land had trees or not (ibid.) they responded by displaying its fruit, as Moses had commanded that they do.  What then was their sin?

Ramban answers that the spies had been commanded to provide information about the Land, and their sin was that they added their own opinion that the Conquest of the Land would be absolutely impossible to carry out.They actively discouraged Israel from undertaking the Mitzvah of conquering the land of Israel.  The spies conducted themselves like some of our media personalities whose job it is to provide the public with facts and information, and who instead take advantage of the tool in their hands to weave in their own despondant commentary, assessments and opinions.  This was the sin of the spies. Israel is still plagued with such naysayers today.

Chattam Sofer (Torat Moshe, Shelach, page 22) likewise holds that sending out the spies was appropriate in accordance with wartime practices, because we mustn’t rely on miracles, but should conduct ourselves according to the laws of nature.  He adds that the spies did not provide false information.  Rather the information they provided should have been given exclusively to Moses, who had sent them (Numbers 13:3).  It was for Moses alone to decide how to use their information.  Yet they did not do this.  Rather, immediately on their return, “they went directly to Moses, Aaron and the entire Israelite community…and they brought their report to Moses, Aaron and the entire community”  (13:26).  They did this with the intention of demoralizing the Israelite camp, like some of the “spies” of today.

The Book of Psalms long ago revealed to us that lack of faith and an absence of love of the Land are the root cause of the sin of the spies; “They despised the precious land, they did not believe His word” (Psalm 106:24). The consequences of the spies counsel of despair and defeatism is still with us.

Therefore, the answer to the confusion, doubt, and despair amongst our generation regarding Eretz Yisrael is increased education towards love of the Land, People and Torah of  Israel.

This is the task and goal of Torah Titbits and OU Israel Center.