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And yet, like all personality traits, it has a "flip side." The flip side of anger is what I would call "righteous indignation," the fury that arises inside us when we see injustice, cruelty or corruption, causing us to act in order to right the wrong. This is the "good" form of anger, the "healthy cholesterol" as opposed to the harmful cholesterol.
Moshe had both of these. When he saw the Egyptian beating the Jew, his righteous indignation kicked in, & he saved the Jew’s life. But when he hit the rock – twice - & called the nation "rebels" at M’riva, that was destructive anger that would cost Moshe dearly – his entrance to Eretz Yisrael.
In our Sedra, Moshe smashes the Luchot when he sees the people worshipping the Golden Calf, sending the first set of the 10 Commandments to smithereens. Which type of anger did this act represent?
Let me explain with an ancient legend about Shlomo, the only person in history whose wisdom approached that of Moshe (indeed, both of their names share the same 3 letters – Hey-Shin-Mem, or Hashem!).
Shlomo, like Adam, spoke all languages, even that of the animals. One day, a man asked Shlomo to teach him the language of the birds. Shlomo refused, saying it was not a good idea. But the man persisted until Shlomo gave in, reluctantly, & agreed to teach him.
Then one day, the man was at his home & he heard two birds, perched on his porch, saying: "This man’s field is on fire!" So he ran to the field & he put out the fire. He was extremely happy that he had convinced Shlomo to teach him bird-language.
Some weeks later, while the man was in the field, he heard a bird in the tree say, "This man’s house is on fire!" And he ran & quickly saved his house. He also sent a message to Shlomo, "See what a good thing it is that you taught me the language of the birds!"
But then one day, two birds were flying overhead and one chirped to the other, "You see that man? He is going to die today!"
Terrified, the man ran to Shlomo for help. "I warned you not to learn the language of the birds," said the wise king to the man. "You see, you deserved to be punished for your sins. G-d wanted to take your field as punishment, and then your house, but you foiled that. Now, there is no recourse but to take your life!"
When Moshe saw what the people had done, the sin they had committed, his first impulse was to save them. So he chose to break the most precious gift ever given to Man. It smashed, but we survived.
So when, G-d forbid, something unpleasant or unfortunate occurs in our lives, we would do well to remember the story of Shlomo and the language of the birds. Maybe, just maybe, rather than cursing, we should be counting our blessings.
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
