Moses’ First and Final Act: Outreach
The Story of 3 Rebels: Reuven, Batya and Miriam
Ki Savo Class
- August 23, 2010
- |
- 13 Elul 5770
Rabbi YY Jacobson
2711 views- Comment Call-in
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Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein in the loving memory of Alta Shula Swerdlov Rabbi Gavriel Noach and Rivki Holtzberg and all of the Mumbai Kedoshim
Class Summary:
We all know Moses for his phenomenal national accomplishments: He stood up to Pharaoh, brought the ten plagues, redeemed the children of Israel from slavery, split the sea, received the Torah, and talked ‘face to face’ with G-d. Yet a fascinating Midrash tells us that Moses’ prolific career and great accomplishments actually started long before the Exodus, and even long before his striking an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew.
Moses’ leadership began minutes after he was born, and climaxed moments before his death. And it wasn’t about saving the nation from slavery, transmitting the Torah, or talking to G-d. It was about his efforts to help and heal individuals and bring them the answers and comfort they are searching for.
Moses’ life began and concluded in acts of outreach, and in each case, to a rebel.
There were three children who rebelled against their father: Reuben son of Jacob, Miriam daughter of Amram, and Batya daughter of Pharaoh.
This class will analyze the different natures of their ‘rebellions’ and show how the greatest accomplishments in life are sometimes much less glamorous than we would have imagined. How the signs of a truly great man are found in his sympathy and sensitivity to the outcast.
The class will teach us who invented the term “kiruv rechokim,” bringing close those who are distant, and the work of “kiruv” began by Moses but completed only by the Moshiach.
Categories
Ki Savo Class
Rabbi YY Jacobson
- August 23, 2010
- |
- 13 Elul 5770
- |
- 2711 views
Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein in the loving memory of Alta Shula Swerdlov Rabbi Gavriel Noach and Rivki Holtzberg and all of the Mumbai Kedoshim
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Shmuli C. -12 years ago
Rabbi Akiva
B"H,
Regarding the double expression that Hashem says of Moshe "Blessed are you in your coming and blessed are you in exit", seems quite related to Rabbi Akiva as well, in a different fashion.
Its most interestingly striking that a similiar expression is employed by the Talmud (Chagigah 14a) about Rabbi Akiva. Regarding Rabbi Akiva and his collogues, he was the only person that entered the celestial orchard, a higher realm of divine consciousness, and exited in peace. He entered and exited in peace.
A similiar double expression is again employed in the Talmud (Berachot 60b) as an adage that was Rabbi Akivas perspective on life. "Eveyrthing that Gd does, He does for the good."
And yet another example of a double expression is found in the story related in the Talmud (Makkot 24a) where Rabbi Akiva consoled his collogues about the destruction of the Temple and they linked a double expression to Rabbi Akiva by saying Akiva you have comforted us, Akiva you have comforted us.
There is a corollary between Rabbi Akiva and Moshe Rabeinu. They both dedicated their life for the Jewish people.
I dont know how insolent this remark would classify me but " The same selfess dedication and leadership Moshe lived with for the Jewish people and the transmission of the Written Torah, Rabbi Akiva did for the Jews with preserving and perpetuating the Oral Torah.
And this is clearly understood the way Moshe voiced his opinion to Hashem (Talmud Menachot 29b) when he asked Hashem why the Torah hadnt been transmitted to the Jews through Rabbi Akiva.
Double expressions seem to abound by Rabbi Akiva in many stories throughout Talmudic and Midrashic literature. The Igeret Taiman authored by the Rambam makes an interesting observation reagarding Rabbi Akiva and says that an ordinary Jew traces his lineage back to Avraham our forefather.
Nevertheless, a convert cant trace himself to Avraham because Avraham is not his ancestor. But the convert can trace his lineage to Gd Himself. And because Gd is above time, the convert, namely Rabbi Akiva in our case, possesses this idea of seeing the world in a passed present and future perspective.
And this explains why double expressions are used by Rabbi Akiva too. He saw the past as a building block to the future. Happyness is rooted in pain. To embrace that which the future brings, we must acknowledge the past, and never forget that which is behind us and where we came from. To have the ability to anticipate the future, we need to take the past and present with us.
May we take everything we have, in mind, heart and soul and merit the future Redemption!
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Anonymous -13 years ago
Thank You
You have really made us appreciate the GDliness in such a saddening situation. Thank you.
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Heidi Lamar -13 years ago
Dear Rabbi Jacobson,
As a Northern Virginia resident, I was aware of your close relationship with Rabbi Levi. I have been praying for him nearly every day for the past three years and participating in many group efforts, such as challah baking, giving extra tzedakah and learning, in the merit of his recovery. The emptiness I feel for his being gone comes not only from missing him, but also from feeling that all of those hopeful efforts weren't enough. The thought that sustains me is that our prayers are always answered, but sometimes the answer is "no."
May you be comforted for the loss of a close friend, and may Levi's memory be for a blessing. Please come visit us soon at the Chabad in Fairfax.
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Nicolas -13 years ago
sorry for your loss friend. Thank you for sharing.
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ari -13 years ago
tribute
Rabbi – I am sorry for the passing of your friend. Please send my condolences to all the family and friends. This essay is an amazing tribute to your friend and something inspiring for those who look forward to all of your writings.
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TT -13 years ago
May G-d protect his family and give to all its members the strength they need
I know exactly how you feel. Thanks for sharing.
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Ruth Housman -13 years ago
to wrestle with angels
This is a beautiful article, about a truly beautiful man, who in the greatest of adversity, truly wrested divine energy from the arms of the angels. May he rest in peace and continue on his journey as a truly remarkable individual for his humanity, even in the darkest of times, finding his way into the light.
I see the word bless in the French word, blesser, which means, to wound, and I am seeing a story here, that deeply involves words themselves, in their deconstructions. I have been writing about this on line, at Chabad and Aish for a long time. It's really no different, how could it be, from what we know about Hebrew, how it builds, and what we know deeply, in terms of the mystical significance of all letters, particularly the writing about the Hebrew letters. I am moving across "Babel" in explicating something divine about words themselves. How powerful they are, and beyond. Can words save the world!
And so I am saying, one can pull at the veils, veils that do bring truth, from this story, and see also, another story, that is deep, that is profound, that has everything to do with what is greatness and greater than us all.
Thank you for a beautiful piece of writing about a truly wonderful man. I think many many will miss him, and those that did not, will learn about him and honor him through these writings.
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Boruch S. -13 years ago
thank you. A beautiful comparison.
I barely knew Levi, but I liked him. we met when he once visited
my yeshiva. he had been my chavrusa's counselor in summer camp several
years earlier. so he stopped by our table to chat. we were much
younger then him, so not having much to talk about, he complimented my
friend on his handwriting.
thinking back, i feel that if there is a lesson i learned from levi,
it is to always find that something special in everyone we meet, and
make them feel good about themselves.
in this delicate world we live in, we have to love everyone while we
can, because we dont know how long they'll be here to appreciate them.
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Zeesy -13 years ago
very touching.....too sad!
Aibeshter really wanting us to feel the pain of golus, and need moshiach....to appreciate it...
who knows anymore?
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Ilan -13 years ago
Thanks for the piece on Levi – it is helpful.
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Hirshy -13 years ago
Thanks
Very well said. Yasher Koiach.
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Dov -13 years ago
Painful
You made me cry, Yosef Yitzchock.
May Hashem bring comfort to the Deitches and all their friends and family.
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Zalman -13 years ago
Thank You
Very good Yossie
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Freida -13 years ago
piognant
Ah such a piognant touching piece abt rabbi levi deitsch
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friend of family -13 years ago
Levi
confused. The world was blessed with his living and how he lived; not clear how it was blessed by his passing.
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Giittle zwick -13 years ago
Thank you
I just buried 3 friends in the last month.I could not make sense of it or life at all. Your tribute to your dear friend shed a light on my emotions. Thank you.
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isaac -13 years ago
thanks
thanks for this tribute.
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Kayo, Tokyo -13 years ago
Baruch HaShem
If I had the courage of Batya....
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Michale -13 years ago
"Question"
I think the answer can be simple because each person has his role and destiny in this World.
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Joe -13 years ago
Question
But why did Hashem not allow Moshe to complete the Kiruv work, and He left the rest to Moshiach? I did not understand the explanation in that. Please clarify.
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tzipi glick -13 years ago
tonight's shiur
Absolutely amazing!!!! So powerful!!! May Hash-m bless you and your family with strength to cintinue your holy work, parnasa beshefa, briut, and only revealed good!!!
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Isaac -13 years ago
Looking Forward
To what we are sure will be another beautiful class. thank you to the sponsors.
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