How Were Reuvein and Gad Similar To The Meraglim?

Rabbi Berel Wein's Destiny Foundation presented a full evening of Torah talks tonight to usher in the month of Av. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Wein did the introductions and presented a brief shiur of his own.

He refered to the episode when the tribes of Reuven and Gad ask Moshe to have a specific part of the land, because it would be good for their abundant cattle. Moshe reprimands them and tells them that they are making a terrible mistake, just like the mistake of the meraglim 38 years earlier. It was that mistake that turned the generation that left Egypt into a people waiting to die. The question is - what does the cheit - mistake of the meraglim have to do with the price of tea in China?

As a great social work supervisor (Ruth Rosado) used to tell me when I asked questions, "Think about it." And let me know what you think.

TO BE CONTINUED (MAYBE)