The Tone of the New Generation in the Desert

This parsha takes a quantum leap into the future - we suddenly find Bnei Yisrael in the 40th year of the desert journey.  This new generation once again complains about the lack of water and bemoans having left Egypt. What has changed from the previous generation? Moshe is punished- why aren’t they?

This new complaint is different than that of the previous generation. Though the new generation also invokes Egypt, they do not really want to go back to Egypt- they do not even remember Egypt. They are not encumbered with a slave mentality. This parasha contains a message for leaders: leaders and educators have to keep their fingers on the pulse of their community and understand what the issues of their current constituents are.