YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Shmot
We can identify three stages in the development of Moshe as a savior. In the first stage, Moshe saved one of his brethren from an enemy. The second was that he gave rebuke to a Jew fighting with another Jew, and he did not accept the rebuke. The third stage was that he was forced to flee to Midian, which made him cease his activity, which represented a stage in liberation. Moshe’s conclusion from these events was, "Indeed the matter became known" (ibid.).
Rashi explains in two ways. The simple meaning is that it became known that he killed an Egyptian. The second, which Rashi calls a midrash, is that it became known why the Israelites, of all nations, were chosen for such slavery and affliction – based on the phenomenon of informers, their lot could be "justified." Baalei HaTosafot claim that this second explanation is not the midrash but is the simple meaning, as the existence of informers like these indeed is a good reason for such difficult exile. It can also be claimed that the liberation was delayed by decades by the fact that such people made it necessary for Moshe to be out of Egypt for so long.
Let us look at another example of the great destructive power of lashon hara on the national status. After David ascended to kingship, he looked for a remaining descendant of the House of Shaul. Tziva, who was a servant of M’fiboshet, the son of Yonatan, came before David and told David about him. The gemara (Shabbat 56a) relates that David accepted lashon hara at this point, as Tziva hinted that M’fiboshet was a "nobody," who was ignorant in Torah (Rashi ad loc.). However, when David met him, David saw that he was a man who was full of content. It is for this reason, says the gemara, that David was particularly taken to task when he accepted the lashon hara of Tziva against M’fiboshet a second time. Tziva, years later, when David was fleeing Yerushalayim due to Avshalom, claimed to David that M’fiboshet was hoping to restore his family’s kingdom (Shmuel II, 16). David decreed that half of M’fiboshet’s property should go to Tziva.
The gemara (op. cit.) tells us that David’s accepting lashon hara contributed to a national disaster. A divine voice proclaimed that as a result of David’s splitting the property, his dynasty would be split between his grandson Rechavam and his non-Davidic rival Yeravam. Rav Yehuda said that there was no idol worship or the like to justify the split (which actually brought Yeravam to put up statues that became idols), but it was due to the lashon hara that David accepted.
Therefore, it should not take a lot of convincing that we would be wise to not allow sins such as lashon hara endanger the great presents we have received and developed in the last 70 years.
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.
