Shelach

This parsha speaks about the meraglim, the spies who were sent to search out Eretz Yisrael. Rashi asks: why is the Parsha of meraglim near the parsha of Miriam?  Rashi answers, because Miriam got tzaraas for speaking lashon hara, and these reshaim – the meraglim, saw and did not take mussar. Rav Schwab is medayaik from Rashi that the main chait of the meraglim is that they “didn’t take mussar,” but not that they spoke lashon hara. Also, there seems to be a special lesson from Miriam that they should have learned, which they could not have learned from general lashon hara. What is this chait and what is the message from Miriam that the meraglim should have been taught?

Rav Schwab explains that lashon hara is a mitzvah between one person and another. The main issur is because it brings to arguments, fights, and causes separation between people. Therefore, it would seem that there should not be an issur of lashon hara if the one being spoken about won’t be bothered at all. For the same reason, there would be nothing wrong with speaking about inanimate objects, such as stones and wood, since they won’t be bothered whatsoever. Based on this idea, the meraglim thought that since we are only speaking bad against land, it is permitted.

Chazal come and teach us that the meraglim should have learned a message from Miriam: one is not permitted to speak lashon hara against an object of kedusha, even though no ill feelings will be felt! This is as the Torah states right after the lashon hara of Miriam, “והאיש משה עניו מאד מכל האדם, and the man Moshe; he had the greatest humility of any person.” Because of Moshe’s humbleness, he felt no harm, just as stones and wood don’t feel anything! However, since Moshe Rabeinu was a being of kedusha, by speaking against him, one was really speaking against Hashem! So too, Eretz Yisrael is the land about which Hashem said, “כי לי הארץ, since the land is Mine.” Therefore, by speaking against such a land which has kedushah, one is in essence speaking against Hashem!

Let us remember to be extra careful with our words and bring the rebuilding of the Third Beis HaMikdash speedily in our days!