MOSHE'S LAPSE IN FAITH... IN THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Shemos
The Midrash tells the story of a loyal minister who presented the king with a gift, a beautiful sword of the finest quality. On receiving the sword, the king turned to his executioner and commanded him to execute the minister with the very sword which he presented to the king.
This Mashal illustrates the conversation between Hashem and Moshe 40 years after the Exodus.
When Hashem tells Moshe that he is about to die, He says הן קרבו ימיך למות “behold your days are drawing close to die.” Hashem announces Moshes death with the word הן. The Midrash tells us that like the minister in the parable, Moshe protests; With this word הן that I praised you declaring; הן לה‘ אלוקיך השמים ושמי השמים, the Heavens and the Heavens above them belong to You Hashem, with this word you announce my death?
Hashem responded to Moshe “indeed you did praise Me with the word הן, but dear Moshe, don’t you remember when else you used this word הן? When I sent you to tell the Jewish people that their redemption is at hand, you responded והן לא יאמינו לי, “behold they will not believe me”. It is because of this והן that I use this word to declare your passing.”
At the burning bush, Hashem told Moshe to go to Egypt and announce the impending Geulah to the people and that they would listen to his voice. But Moshe responded with doubt, casting aspersion on the Jewish people that they would not believe him.
Hashem warned Moshe that for his slander he deserved to be beaten with his staff. The signs which Moshe was shown at the burning bush all contained with them a reproach to Moshe himself.
His staff turned into a serpent, alluding to the snake of Gan Eden which spoke slanderously. Subsequently his hand was plagued with Tzaraas, the punishment for Loshon Hora. And ultimately, because of this slander, Moshe was destined to die, הן קרבו ימיך למות.
We can’t really blame Moshe for his lack of confidence in the faith of the Jewish people. Moshe knew very well who he was talking about. Bnei Yisroel were not the biggest bunch of Tzaddikim. They had fallen to the depths of the 49th Gate of Impurity, standing on the abyss of complete spiritual collapse.
Our sages teach that only one fifth of the Jewish people left Egypt. The remaining 4/5ths who did not believe in Geulah, passed away during the plague of darkness. According to another version only 1/500th of the Jewish population merited to leave Egypt.
Even those who did merit to be redeemed were far from perfect. At the time of Krias Yam Suf, when Bnei Yisroel crossed safely on dry land while the Mitzriim drowned in the raging waters, the angels protested. What is the difference between these people (Bnei Yisroel) and these people (the Egyptians)? These one’s worship idols and these one’s too worship idols. The Jewish people commit murder and sins on immorality just like the Egyptians. Yet why are Bnei Yisroel spared while the Mitzriim perish?
But this was only true on the superficial level. In their heart of hearts and in the essence of their souls, the Jewish people are Maaminim Bnei Maaminim, believers the sons of believers. They believe in Hashem and they believe in Geulah.
Hashem’s lesson is a powerful directive on how we should look at every Jew, even those who seems so distant from Jewish observance and faith. Every Jew possesses a Neshama, a part of G-d Above. In their truest essential state they have an innate believe in Hashem and in Torah. This is the Jew that we should see when we look at others and not judge them on externalities.
When we believe in our fellow Jews them and see their inner faith, we can reveal it within them and through this we will merit to leave our Exile together in the ultimate redemption with Moshiach leading the way.
This Mashal illustrates the conversation between Hashem and Moshe 40 years after the Exodus.
When Hashem tells Moshe that he is about to die, He says הן קרבו ימיך למות “behold your days are drawing close to die.” Hashem announces Moshes death with the word הן. The Midrash tells us that like the minister in the parable, Moshe protests; With this word הן that I praised you declaring; הן לה‘ אלוקיך השמים ושמי השמים, the Heavens and the Heavens above them belong to You Hashem, with this word you announce my death?
Hashem responded to Moshe “indeed you did praise Me with the word הן, but dear Moshe, don’t you remember when else you used this word הן? When I sent you to tell the Jewish people that their redemption is at hand, you responded והן לא יאמינו לי, “behold they will not believe me”. It is because of this והן that I use this word to declare your passing.”
At the burning bush, Hashem told Moshe to go to Egypt and announce the impending Geulah to the people and that they would listen to his voice. But Moshe responded with doubt, casting aspersion on the Jewish people that they would not believe him.
Hashem warned Moshe that for his slander he deserved to be beaten with his staff. The signs which Moshe was shown at the burning bush all contained with them a reproach to Moshe himself.
His staff turned into a serpent, alluding to the snake of Gan Eden which spoke slanderously. Subsequently his hand was plagued with Tzaraas, the punishment for Loshon Hora. And ultimately, because of this slander, Moshe was destined to die, הן קרבו ימיך למות.
We can’t really blame Moshe for his lack of confidence in the faith of the Jewish people. Moshe knew very well who he was talking about. Bnei Yisroel were not the biggest bunch of Tzaddikim. They had fallen to the depths of the 49th Gate of Impurity, standing on the abyss of complete spiritual collapse.
Our sages teach that only one fifth of the Jewish people left Egypt. The remaining 4/5ths who did not believe in Geulah, passed away during the plague of darkness. According to another version only 1/500th of the Jewish population merited to leave Egypt.
Even those who did merit to be redeemed were far from perfect. At the time of Krias Yam Suf, when Bnei Yisroel crossed safely on dry land while the Mitzriim drowned in the raging waters, the angels protested. What is the difference between these people (Bnei Yisroel) and these people (the Egyptians)? These one’s worship idols and these one’s too worship idols. The Jewish people commit murder and sins on immorality just like the Egyptians. Yet why are Bnei Yisroel spared while the Mitzriim perish?
But this was only true on the superficial level. In their heart of hearts and in the essence of their souls, the Jewish people are Maaminim Bnei Maaminim, believers the sons of believers. They believe in Hashem and they believe in Geulah.
Hashem’s lesson is a powerful directive on how we should look at every Jew, even those who seems so distant from Jewish observance and faith. Every Jew possesses a Neshama, a part of G-d Above. In their truest essential state they have an innate believe in Hashem and in Torah. This is the Jew that we should see when we look at others and not judge them on externalities.
When we believe in our fellow Jews them and see their inner faith, we can reveal it within them and through this we will merit to leave our Exile together in the ultimate redemption with Moshiach leading the way.