
 |
|
July 2, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The hallmark of a person
Abe Novick: Up, up, and aliya
July 1, 2009
Rabbi Avi Shafran: The Road Taken
The Kosher Gourmet
by Marialisa Calta: Get into the holiday spirit with these Star-Spangled desserts
June 30, 2009
Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg: What makes a great parent?
Caroline B. Glick: Ideologue-in-Chief
June 29, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist
by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Beware of 'Caveat Emptor'
Steven Emerson: ACLU pushing for more money for Hamas
June 26, 2009
Rabbi Yoni Posnick: Learn the secret to a healthy marriage from a scriptural villain
Caroline B. Glick: Barack Obama vs. International Law
June 25, 2009
Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf: The Absurd Power of Truth
Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip:
Everything's Relative
June 24, 2009
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Advancement of technology is a wake-up call for humanity
The Kosher Gourmet by Andrea Weigl: Summer on a stick: Making frozen treats can be easy, creative and fun
June 23, 2009
Martin M. Bodek: 'On Surnames': And so, We Begin
Caroline B. Glick: The Obama Effect
June 22, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Working for a corrupt firm
N. Richard Greenfield : Where are American Jews?
June 19, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Emotion v. intellect
Caroline B. Glick: Israel's rare opportunity
June 18, 2009
Jonathan Rosenblum: Sometimes it is more essential to define the nature of evil than good
Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip:
Everything's Relative
June 17, 2009
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Language of Confusion
The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Nothing pleases Dad more than a thick, juicy onion-smothered steak. Add home-Baked Potato Chips and …
June 16, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Career v. Careersism
Caroline B. Glick: Obama's losing streak and Israel
Richard Z. Chesnoff: Palestinians: Never Missing an Opportunity …
June 15, 2009
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: How Judea and Samaria can become 'Palestine'
Daniel Pipes: Where Netanyahu's speech failed
June 12, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Some big thoughts about not acting so big
Caroline B. Glick:
Obama's High Commissioner
June 11, 2009
Victor Davis Hanson: Our historically challenged President
Mitch Albom: Beware the True Believers
Lewis Grossberger: What we learn from the new Hitler photos
June 10, 2009
Mort Zuckerman: What Obama and his advisors won't -- or refuse to -- grasp about Israel and the Muslim world
The Kosher Gourmet
by Steve Petusevsky Lotsa pasta: Tips, techniques and (amazing) taste
June 9, 2009
Anne Bayefsky: Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: America's first Muslim president?
June 8, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Merchant must take responsibility for careless shopper?
Mark Steyn: A superpower that feeds on mediocrity cannot survive for long on leftovers from the past
Richard Z. Chesnoff: How do you say 'kumbaya' in Arabic?
June 5, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: In quest of spirituality
Caroline B. Glick: Obama's Arabian dreams
Charles Krauthammer: The Settlements Myth
June 4, 2009
Paul Greenberg: The War Comes to Little Rock
The Kosher Gourmet
by Judy Hevrdejs: Splash it on! Tap your inner jazz musician and improvise when stirring up a vinaigrette
June 3, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Should terrible teacher be exposed?
Jonathan Rosenblum: The Israel Lobby: Missing in Action
June 2, 2009
Dennis Prager: The Speech President Obama Won't Dare Give in Egypt
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Pressure on Israel raises war risk
Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)
|
| |
Jewish World Review
May 30, 2008
/ 15 Iyar 5768,
Man: The Crowning Glory of Creation
By
Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz
As mortal human beings, we sometimes view ourselves as
mere cogs in the vast machinery of the universe. Constrained by
both our spiritual shortcomings and our physical limitations, we
feel that we cannot effect any meaningful change in the world, in
the lives of others, and, at times, even in our own lives. The Talmud
opens up an entirely new perspective
And the Divine said: "I have forgiven, according to your words.
Numbers 14:20
After the spies returned from Canaan
with a pessimistic report, Jewry despaired of
their ability to conquer the land. As a punishment for
their lack of total trust and faith, the Divine intended
to wipe out the nation. Immediately, Moses began
to plead Jewry's case before the Divine.
The Talmud (Berachos 32a) records the conversation:
If You destroy the Children of Israel, the other nations of the world
will claim that Your strength is not supreme. They will argue that
You don't possess the power to conquer the thirty-one kings of
Canaan. The Divine assented to Moses' argument and told him,
'Moses, your words have given Me life.'
Rav Nissim
Gaon explains the Divine's cryptic reply. The Divine was telling
Moses that He agreed with Moses' view of the situation and as a
result of Moses' prayers, the Divine's power and greatness would
continue to become known to the entire world.
The Divine's words, "You have given Me life," seem to credit
Moses with the achievement of having the Divine's Omnipotence
accepted by all mankind. What did Moses do to deserve this?
Moses did not have the physical ability to accomplish this astounding
feat. He merely prayed that The Divine not take action
against Jewry and that He simply continue revealing His
might as before. Is it correct to say that Moses gave the Divine "life"
in the eyes of the world?
Our sages tell us (Bamidbar Rabbah 9:35) that
someone who causes his friend to sin is punished as if he himself
has sinned. Similarly, someone who prompts
another to perform a mitzvah (religious duty, act of kindness) is rewarded
for the performance of that mitzvah. In our
case, Moses' prayers were a pivotal factor in the Divine's decision
to lead His people into Canaan, thereby revealing His supreme
might to the world. Therefore Moses is credited with the entire
result, and is considered as having given the Divine "life" i.e.,
eternal power and omnipotence in the eyes of all mankind a
feat far beyond Moses' actual abilities.
As mortal human beings, we sometimes view ourselves as
mere cogs in the vast machinery of the universe. Constrained by
both our spiritual shortcomings and our physical limitations, we
feel that we cannot effect any meaningful change in the world, in
the lives of others, and, at times, even in our own lives. The Talmud
opens up an entirely new perspective. Any action we take
that even indirectly contributes to the benefit of another individual
even a prayer that merely preserves the status quo is
considered to have directly accomplished that benefit and all the
repercussions that result from it.
Who knows which kindness, which prayer, or what act of self-control
may be the one that tips the Heavenly scale to the side of merit?
Can we predict which small gesture will be the deciding factor
that may influence the outcome of world events? Like the operator
of a huge nuclear power plant, we can be credited with benefiting
millions of people with an action as simple as pressing a button.
On the other hand, with an equally simple improper action, we
can be held accountable for widespread misery and suffering.
If we appreciate the potential that every single deed has to
be the crucial force that changes the lives of others and the entire
world our role in the cosmos takes on an entirely new significance.
This realization will motivate us to live up to the Torah's
expectation of man as the crowning glory of creation.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here.
| INSPIRED BY THIS ARTICLE? BUY THE BOOK ... |
| at a discount by clicking HERE . |
|
Comment by clicking here.
One of America's senior Torah sages, Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz has been the dean of the Rabbinical Seminary of America, in Queens, New York for more than 50 years. The institution has branches and affiliates all across North America and Israel.
This article was prepared by two of the sage's disciples, Rabbi Aryeh Striks and Rabbi Shimon Zehnwirth, and excerpted from the just released book, "Pinnacle of Creation: Torah insights into human nature".
Previously:
The Divine's eternal, unconditional love
Perverting sincerity
Do 'clothes make the man'?
Divine vindictiveness?

© 2007, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
|