YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Shlach Lecha
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
The Torah Shleima (Shelach 129) cites a midrash that six of the attributes were off limits because of the lashon hara. The Zohar (III, Shelach 161b) says that "truth" was omitted (rav chesed appears without ve’emet) because the spies lied. However, there is a different approach that it was not that the people did not merit the missing attributes, which are meant, after all, for sinners. The Midrash Aggada (Bamidbar 14:17) says that rav chesed implies that if Hashem would give people what they deserved, no one would survive. Indeed, the Ramban says that this is the reason that Moshe specifically left out emet. He continues that Moshe did not invoke the forefathers’ virtue because they had been promised the Land and here the offspring had turned their back on that present.
The Ramban questions why rachum v’chanun (merciful and compassionate) was omitted. He suggests that Moshe knew that fulll forgiveness was impossible at the time. One can suggest that these were more general matters of compassion that were less focused on forgiving sin, as we say: "Just as He is rachum and chanun, so we should be." It is interesting that even when Moshe chose the attributes to mention, he included "v’nakeh lo anakeh" (I will clean [the slate]; I will not clean), which means that Hashem will only forgive those who repent (Shvu’ot 39a). Moshe’s approach was not to seek full mercy but to allow restitution in a manner that would allow Bnei Yisrael to survive. First the people repented. Second the punishment was to be stretched out over time and not be meted out immediately (see Rashi to Shemot, ibid.). Moshe realized that business could not resume as usual. Thus, Hashem was able to say the famous words, "Salachti kid’varecha" (I have forgiven as you said) and continue that the generation would not merit to see the Land (Bamidbar 14: 20-23).
We have a special right to ask and often receive mercy from Hashem for our personal and national sins. Moshe found a way to tailor-make the request for the need. However, we will not succeed and should not even ask for magical forgiveness that makes sins disappear without consequences or rectification.
Parashat Hashavua Unfortunate Disbelief in the Coexistence of Opposites
1988 – from Siach Shaul, p. 388-390
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
