Two days before the conclusion of the thirty-day mourning period following the passing of Moses on Adar 7 (see Jewish History for the 7th of Nissan), Joshua dispatched two scouts--Caleb and Pinchas--across the Jordan River to Jericho, to gather intelligence in preparation of the Israelites' battle with the first city in their conquest of the Holy Land. In Jericho, they were assisted and hidden by Rahab, a woman who lived inside the city walls. (Rahab later married Joshua).
Link:
The Two Spies
R. Avraham Yehoshua Heshel was one of the leading Rebbes of his day, serving as rabbi and spiritual leader first in Apta (presently called Opatow), then in Iasi, and finally in Mezhibuzh. He was known for his great love of his fellow Jews, and is commonly known as “the Ohev Yisroel [lover of Jews] of Apta.”
Link: Special Powers
In today's "Nasi" reading (see "Nasi of the Day" in Nissan 1), we read of the gift bought by the nasi of the tribe of Shimon, Shlumiel ben Tzurishadai, for the inauguration of the Mishkan.
Mitzvah (mits-va): An instruction in life from the Giver of Life.
A stroke of brilliance arising from the innermost will of the Creator of all things, left for you to perform on the stage of His world.
A connection point in time, at which Heaven meets Earth, Earth meets Heaven, and the two embrace.
An instance, left in your hands, for the true reality to be exposed, as what would otherwise be a trivial object—a dollar bill, a candle, a braided loaf of bread, a black leather strap—is suddenly revealed as a divine instrument.
An opportunity to make the transient eternal in a moment—you, your body, and the artifacts of your world.
