Parshat Shelach teaches us many important ideas we would do well to remember today.

• Even righteous people, in high-status positions and wielding great power, can become corrupt. The spies were the Nesiim of the nation, and yet they slandered the land of Israel.


• Moshe was extraordinarily patient with Bnei Yisrael. Even though they kept on making major mistakes, Moshe always defended them to God and advocated on their behalf. All of us would do well to try to incorporate the trait of patience into our own lives.


• The mitzvah of hafrashat challah teaches us to think of the needs of others even while we are tending to our own. Before we eat our bread, we separate out a portion for the kohen.


• Tzitzit are like a soldier's uniform- something that reminds boys and men of their status, and helps them to avoid committing a sin.