The last parsha of the Torah, V'Zos Habracha, we read of Moshe's passing and how the Jewish men mourned his passing for thirty days. "And the Bnei Yisroel, sons of Israel wept." In contrast, by Aaron's passing, both men and women "all the House of Israel" wept. Why was Aaron mourned by all? Because he brought peace amongst friends and between husband and wife.
If peace is so special, why didn't Moshe involve himself in peace making as well? Didn't he himself teach that it is acceptable to twist the truth to make peace.
Moshe is the transmitter of Hashem's word, the Torah, the truth. While peace is created by bending the truth, truth is unwielding, it doesn't take feelings in to account.
Moshe's main purpose was to accurately teach Hashem's Torah, he had to be a beacon of unwielding truth. This precluded him from truth bending, even with the best of intentions.
This is also why, sometimes, Torah discussions and debates could sound harsh and tactless. Because it about truth, which just is.
It is the truth of Torah that makes us who we are. It is because of our commitment to the truth that Hashem chose us.
What takes precedence, truth or peace?
When it comes to Torah study be like Moshe, truth over peace. When counseling people be like Aaron, peace over truth.
Ultimately, truth is essential to our existence, while peace is a tool employed by our Torah of truth. Start with truth and pursue peace when it is called for.
Don't be a hard-nosed, tactless person, be a mentch. A mentch knows when to be like Moshe and when to be like Aaron.
If peace is so special, why didn't Moshe involve himself in peace making as well? Didn't he himself teach that it is acceptable to twist the truth to make peace.
Moshe is the transmitter of Hashem's word, the Torah, the truth. While peace is created by bending the truth, truth is unwielding, it doesn't take feelings in to account.
Moshe's main purpose was to accurately teach Hashem's Torah, he had to be a beacon of unwielding truth. This precluded him from truth bending, even with the best of intentions.
This is also why, sometimes, Torah discussions and debates could sound harsh and tactless. Because it about truth, which just is.
It is the truth of Torah that makes us who we are. It is because of our commitment to the truth that Hashem chose us.
What takes precedence, truth or peace?
When it comes to Torah study be like Moshe, truth over peace. When counseling people be like Aaron, peace over truth.
Ultimately, truth is essential to our existence, while peace is a tool employed by our Torah of truth. Start with truth and pursue peace when it is called for.
Don't be a hard-nosed, tactless person, be a mentch. A mentch knows when to be like Moshe and when to be like Aaron.
Rabbi Hurwitz,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this concise clarification of what is a sophisticated
and human analysis of a Toretic principle. Rules without truth are
arbitrary and capricious. Truth without compassion is heartless.
We need both truth and compassion.
Dr John
Dear yitzi I read your blog every week you inspire me more than you can imagine miss you
ReplyDeleteGut shabbos
Dear yitzi I read your blog every week you inspire me more than you can imagine miss you
ReplyDeleteGut shabbos
Dear yitzi I read your blog every week you inspire me more than you can imagine miss you
ReplyDeleteGut shabbos
Dear Rabbi Yitzi it is such an honor to read your insightful posts. May you only go from strength to strength. Us here in South Africa are davening for you !
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