Thursday, June 20, 2019

POWER OF LANGUAGES

    It is pathetic that a member of Congress throws around ideas and words comparing modern day detention centers to the concentration camps in Germany? How dare anyone to be so insensitive and so ill informed of what took place during the Holocaust and still represent our Glorious country? One wonders where such attitudes are leading the citizens of the United States of America and why other members of Congress are so quiet in their indifference?
    We must tell our representatives that words are irretrievable and let them think twice before uttering absurd and hurtful expressions. The word is like a sword and can be very dangerous, inflicting harm on others.
  With these thoughts in mind, my attention turns to the end of our Sedra Behaaloscha, wherein we read of the dastardly act performed by Miriam as she spoke Lashon Harah against her brother Moshe. For this she was severely punished. She could have used the words of Mishley, “ ברוב דברים לא יחסל פשע וחשך שפתיו משכיל”With a multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” This is an instructive lesson to teach us that there are times when one should remain silent.
  How did Moshe react to such insulting and pejorative words uttered by Miriam? The answer is found in the next sentence where Torah states; “והאיש משה ענו מאד, Yet the man Moshe was exceedingly humble.” These words show us that Moshe remained humble and did not allow these words to affect the core of his character, for he was not concerned about his
 self- importance, but his only concern was his strong devotion to G-D. It did not seem necessary for him to reply to Miriam to defend his honor.
I sense that Moshe’s action can become our lesson for life - that there are certain people that do not deserve our recognition nor our respect or our reply to their despicable behavior. They are not worthy to even show our annoyance. They are to be, totally, ignored for they are persona non grata. 
  Though the lesson that Moshe teaches us is very instructive and may be the best way to deal with Lashon Harah, my inner being says לא תעמוד על דם רעיך, there are times we cannot just stand by, for too often the pain is so great that we need to vent our discomfort and dislike for certain remarks that are made. I realize the need to do so in a meaningful and respectful way, for we must never let ourselves become like those venom speaking people who are walking through the dung of the uncivilized.
  Human progress, inevitably, depends on enough men defining the values they want to live by and then backing up those standards by wise and appropriate means.
Remember well, as we go through life, “It requires greater strength to listen than to speak.”
Do we have that indomitable strength to choose our words wisely and thereby make a greater contribution to our society? Our way of life is to follow the dictum, 
נצר לשונך מרע ושפתיך
 מדבר מרמה סור מרע ועשה טוב בקש שלום ורדפהו.




 
 

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