August 3, 2024; 28 Tammuz, 5784 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara
“We will build sheep pens for our livestock here, and cities for our children.” (BaMidbar 32:16)
The tribes of Gad and Reuven (“Tribes”) were certainly on a high spiritual level. They were part of the Dor De’ah, the generation that left Egypt and saw Hashem’s numerous miracles - the greatest generation that ever lived. And yet, on a subtle level, the Tribes were driven by an apparent drive for material possessions. After having arrived at land that was directly east of the land of Israel, they noted its fertile quality and expressed a desire to settle there instead of Israel, to benefit their flocks...