Diaspora Yeshiva Toras Yisrael | Mount Zion, Jerusalem
Imrei Mordechai, Volume Two
A Collection of Inspirational Insights from the "Mussar Shmoozes" of HaGaon Rabbi Mordechai Goldstein, ztzvk"l
“Moshe sent away his father-in-law, who returned to his land” (Shemos / Exodus 18:27). According to the Midrash, this was before Matan Torah [the giving of the Torah]. Why would Moshe [Moses] sent Yisro [Jethro] away at such a critical time?
The baalei mussar ask: what is the big deal about saying naaseh venishma [we will do and we will hear]? At Sinai, they were about to receive the Torah. What would have been wrong with declaring that they were ready to hear and learn all of the mitzvos [commandments] of the Torah, and once they knew them, they would do them right away? What would have been wrong with declaring: nishma venaaseh [we will hear and we will do]?
It is said in the name of the Bircas Shmuel that two factors obligate man to act in accordance with them: the Torah and human intellect.
Thus said, as with any situation of dual influences, we must contemplate which is subservient to the other. Must the Torah align with human understanding, or must man force himself to accept the opinions and thought processes of the Torah?
Midrash Tanchuma relates (Buber ed. Ki Sissa 19): It once happened that Rabi Yochanan was travelling from Teveriya to Tzipori with his student, Rabi Chiya bar Abba. As they passed a vineyard, R’ Yochanan commented, “This used to be mine, but I sold it for a certain amount.” They then neared an olive orchard, and he repeated the same. R’ Chiya asked, “And of all your fields you retained nothing for your old age?”
I saw that “not withholding good” applies not only to material good, but also to the true good, which is Torah. Since Torah is the true good, it must be that it is intended in this verse. It follows that a Jew is capable of reaching very great levels in Torah, even greater than Moshe Rabbeinu’s, because Hashem will not hold back good from those who go b’tmimus with Him, and included in this are all the levels of Torah.
The Ran (Drasha 8) says this about nevuah [prophecy], too. The difference between Moshe’s nevuah and that of Aharon [Aaron] and Miriam’s was that when Hashem wanted to communicate with them, He had to call upon Moshe as well. On their own, Aharon and Miriam were not capable of receiving nevuah at that time. Meaning, receiving nevuah parallels receiving Torah — it all depends on how much the recipient is capable of receiving.
Book of Genesis] (50:17), Yosef’s [Joseph’s] brothers come before him with an important message after the passing of their father, Yaakov [Jacob]. The brothers thought that without Yaakov, Yosef might now turn against them because of what they had done to him, selling him into slavery. They decided to send the sons of Bilhah, who were close to Yosef, with a message in the name of all the brothers, that their father had commanded them before his death to tell Yosef to forgive them for all they had done to him. All the brothers later came to Yosef and fell to his feet, declaring: “We are your slaves” (v. 18).
In the previous chapter, we learned that the mitzvah [commandment] of teshuva is not only a procedure of regret and acceptance for the future, but rather something that must effect a man’s entire being. His feelings, his prayers should change; a man must feel that he is willing to give all of his possessions to tzedaka [charity], all of his animals as offerings, and even his family he is ready to bring on the altar if this would mean that Hashem forgives him for his sin. So too, a man must feel the awesome chessed of Hashem, that He gives us a simple procedure as compared with what would be required of him. He also must pray about teshuva, that he be able to do it and succeed in it, and that Hashem accepts his teshuva.
Imagine the scene: With Hashem’s help, the war was won, and Moshe was on his way to greet the victorious troops. These were Jews who were willing to give their lives for Klal Yisrael, and who had merited awesome siyatta d’Shemaya [help from Heaven] in reaching their victory. It was heady moment for the nation — or so we would have thought.
More chapters coming soon, b’ezras HaShem…
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