Towards the end of the Parshah (23:20) Hashem informs us of the future time when klall yisrael will sin and an angel will be sent to guide the Jew s into Eretz Yisrael instead the presence of the Shechinah Itself. The pasuk continues to warn "Beware! Listen to his voice and don't rebel against him, for he will not carry (be patient wth or forgive) your sins...".
Rashi explains that since the angel is not one of those that ever sin, he is not accustomed to it, and exposure to sin will be intollerable for the malach.
It seems strange that a malach of such angelic character and perfection can't simply view us objectively for who we are! Shouldn't a malach realize that we are just human, -basar v'dam-, and quite capable of stumbling into silly thoughtless sin?
I believe that here the Torah is teaching us a tremendous insight into human nature. If an angel cannot free himself from judging others subjectively, and only relative to his lofty self, how much true objective judgement can we expect of ourselves! The reality is that we see everything around us only through our 'relative vision'. Employers, employees, teachers and their students, partners, clients, neighbors, freinds, and unfortunately even spouses, all tend to appreciate the other according to what use they have from them. People can evaluate their own children as their personal nachas machine, and when the machine 'malfunctions' they cannot respect and love their children appropriately for their individual traits and feelings.
Our nature of subjective judgement is quite impossible to change. However we can evaluate relative to ourselves in a different manner. As the Ramban in his famous letter writes "every person should be greater than you, in your eyes". Let us be judgemental! Let us use relative value, just in the correct way! Let us not see others by how we can use them, but rather how we can be of service to them.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Mishpatim
In the beginning of this week's Parshah, Rashi explains the reason for a jewish slave's ear piercing, as a critique on the slave's decision to sujugate himself under another master other than G-D. A simple question may be asked, as to why this lesson was delayed until after six years of servitude? This should have taken place when he upon his being sold initially!
Another interesting curiosity about this, is the gemarah which tells us that since the slave owner must treat him with an equal, if not better, standard of living it is as though the owner acquired a master for himself. Besides for for not being overworked, the Eved must be offered the same dinner as his owner, the same quality mattress, and he gets sick days with his healthcare paid for! So who's actually being subjugated to the other?
We might say that one question infers the answer to the other. During the first six years of slavery the Eved is still not accustomed to his lack of leadership and authority. On the contrary, he views the owner as a great source of income, no different than how a store owner sees his customers. At the time of purchase the Eved truthfully feels that he is becoming a master for his buyer to be taken advantage of. That is when chazal describe the owner as acquiring a master for himself.
However after six years, the Eved has gotten used to following the lead of his owner, and his sense of reliance upon other has grown natural to him. Precisely at the time he declares he'd rather not gain his independance, THEN there has developed a role reversal. The Eved has now become subjugated and the owner finally his master.
This is a powerful lesson for us to be careful of the experiences we expose ourselves to. In as much as we have no real need for certain things initially, the desire, love, and even addiction to them is just a matter of time. Let's remember who our Master is and not enslave ourselves to others.
Another interesting curiosity about this, is the gemarah which tells us that since the slave owner must treat him with an equal, if not better, standard of living it is as though the owner acquired a master for himself. Besides for for not being overworked, the Eved must be offered the same dinner as his owner, the same quality mattress, and he gets sick days with his healthcare paid for! So who's actually being subjugated to the other?
We might say that one question infers the answer to the other. During the first six years of slavery the Eved is still not accustomed to his lack of leadership and authority. On the contrary, he views the owner as a great source of income, no different than how a store owner sees his customers. At the time of purchase the Eved truthfully feels that he is becoming a master for his buyer to be taken advantage of. That is when chazal describe the owner as acquiring a master for himself.
However after six years, the Eved has gotten used to following the lead of his owner, and his sense of reliance upon other has grown natural to him. Precisely at the time he declares he'd rather not gain his independance, THEN there has developed a role reversal. The Eved has now become subjugated and the owner finally his master.
This is a powerful lesson for us to be careful of the experiences we expose ourselves to. In as much as we have no real need for certain things initially, the desire, love, and even addiction to them is just a matter of time. Let's remember who our Master is and not enslave ourselves to others.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Yisro
The question has been asked time and again by any and every Darshan.... "Mah inyan Yisro aitzel har sinai ?" What does the welcoming of Yisro have to do with Matan Torah?
The answers abound. I will attempt to offer an answer that came to my mind.
Rashi sums up the welcoming of Yisro in a few short words. "Kavod gadol niskabed yisro b'oso sha'ah." A great honor was shown to Yisro at the time. Upon seeing Moshe Rabeinu take leave of his daily responsibilities and very full schedule, Aharon and his sons followed suit to be with Moshe. As the great leaders of klal yisrael passed before all of the encampment, everyone tagged along to join their leaders. During this massive parade Moshe prostrated (his entire body flat on the ground) respectfully to his father in law, kissed him, asked about his wellfare, and then proceeded to serve a grand banquet in Yisro's honor.
A great honor indeed.
Hashem invited Klall Yisrael to matan torah with the statement "You will be for me a royal kingdom of ministers".
Moshe then postponed the day the world was waitng for, so that the Torah would be given in a more respectful manner ie: the women would all be in a state of purity for the giving of the Torah.
I believe that the Torah is introducing itself with a clear message. DON'T TAKE THIS CASUALLY.
There is a value system with priorities that is needed before one approaches Torah. The capacity to recognize individual value and to act accordingly is a prerequisite to living a Torah life. As a matter of fact, the sefer Derech Hashem, by Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, states that the one and only condition needed for Torah to have its spiritual effect upon those who study it is respectfulness. Recognizing the Torah as a valuable source of wisdom and not just another book of history and social guidelines.
The Parshah begins with a show of honor to others, then continues with a revelation of self respect, and finally with the respect of Torah. This should serve as a guide to us all, especially in the American society in which casualness and coarseness has become 'everyday'. The refined awareness of kavod and its importance can be acquired, first by looking at each other with the proper regard and expressing that regard in action. After that, healthy self respect and the proper respect of Torah will follow.
The answers abound. I will attempt to offer an answer that came to my mind.
Rashi sums up the welcoming of Yisro in a few short words. "Kavod gadol niskabed yisro b'oso sha'ah." A great honor was shown to Yisro at the time. Upon seeing Moshe Rabeinu take leave of his daily responsibilities and very full schedule, Aharon and his sons followed suit to be with Moshe. As the great leaders of klal yisrael passed before all of the encampment, everyone tagged along to join their leaders. During this massive parade Moshe prostrated (his entire body flat on the ground) respectfully to his father in law, kissed him, asked about his wellfare, and then proceeded to serve a grand banquet in Yisro's honor.
A great honor indeed.
Hashem invited Klall Yisrael to matan torah with the statement "You will be for me a royal kingdom of ministers".
Moshe then postponed the day the world was waitng for, so that the Torah would be given in a more respectful manner ie: the women would all be in a state of purity for the giving of the Torah.
I believe that the Torah is introducing itself with a clear message. DON'T TAKE THIS CASUALLY.
There is a value system with priorities that is needed before one approaches Torah. The capacity to recognize individual value and to act accordingly is a prerequisite to living a Torah life. As a matter of fact, the sefer Derech Hashem, by Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, states that the one and only condition needed for Torah to have its spiritual effect upon those who study it is respectfulness. Recognizing the Torah as a valuable source of wisdom and not just another book of history and social guidelines.
The Parshah begins with a show of honor to others, then continues with a revelation of self respect, and finally with the respect of Torah. This should serve as a guide to us all, especially in the American society in which casualness and coarseness has become 'everyday'. The refined awareness of kavod and its importance can be acquired, first by looking at each other with the proper regard and expressing that regard in action. After that, healthy self respect and the proper respect of Torah will follow.
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