He owned a small two bedroom house, one car, one suit, one jacket and several pairs of slacks. Yet he was one of the happiest men I have had the honor of knowing. Rafael exhibited the quality of the twelve men that Moshe chose to spy out the land of promise. The two Jewish leaders that I did not discuss exhibited the Torah knowledge and leadership qualities of the men Moshe chose. Feelings of betrayal are overwhelming.
Depression is beyond explanation.
It is NOT difficult to understand why Kal Yisroel failed in this situation, given our human weakness and dependence on leadership. Yet even in these depressing but most crucial times one is able to connect with G-d and to connect with the Truth of Torah. As a result many in Yisroel were punished for their failure. Many died and many did not enter the land of promise. Kal Yisroel was bound by a serious conflict of leadership.