The "Pilot Trip" That Went Very Wrong, Parshat Shlach Lecha

This week's Parshat Shavua, Torah Portion of the Week Shlach Lecha is basically about a "Pilot Trip" to the Holy Land that ended up being a disaster.

Gd had instructed Moshe to send out a very distinguished delegation of tribal leaders to divvy up the Land in advance of the big return. Today it's called a "pilot trip." Potential olim, those Jews moving to Israel, are encouraged to send an "advance team or delegate" to choose a suitable location, schools and even arrange housing. Of the twelve tribal leaders Moshe had sent, only Calev followed instructions exactly.

24But as for My servant Caleb, since he was possessed by another spirit, and he followed Me, I will bring him to the land to which he came, and his descendants will drive it[s inhabitants] out.

כדוְעַבְדִּ֣י כָלֵ֗ב עֵ֣קֶב הָֽיְתָ֞ה ר֤וּחַ אַחֶ֨רֶת֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיְמַלֵּ֖א אַֽחֲרָ֑י וַֽהֲבִֽיאֹתִ֗יו אֶל־הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א שָׁ֔מָּה וְזַרְע֖וֹ יֽוֹרִשֶֽׁנָּה:

Their mission wasn't to judge the pros and cons of entering the Land, just to be pragmatically prepared.

Today it's the same. Israel in just over seventy years has become one the most advanced countries in the world. Gd has helped us win our wars, because Gd wants all Jews to live here. Don't make the mistake of the ten tribal leaders who sinned. Be like Calev and Joshua. Pack your bags and stake out your place in the Holy Land, The Land of Israel.