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January 30, 2012
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January 25, 2012
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January 10, 2012
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Jewish World Review
Having a holy tongue
By
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
Unless we sanctify our speech, man is not yet unique
“Behold! Your eyes see as do the eyes of my brother Benjamin that it is my mouth that is speaking to you.”
— Genesis 45:12
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Rashi, the foremost biblical commentator, comments that the words, ''my mouth is speaking to you'' to mean ''in lashon hakodesh (the holy tongue).''
Purportedly, this means that Joseph offered as proof of his identity that he knew Hebrew. But in what way was this a proof? Until now, they communicated through
an interpreter, whom they assumed to be an Egyptian who obviously knew Hebrew.
Rashi's words may have an additional meaning. All matter is divided into four
categories: domem (inanimate), tzomeach (vegetative), chai (living) and medaber (speaking). The last is the category of man, the only being that can speak. But is this really so? Is man the only creature that can communicate by sound?
We know that many forms of life communicate by sound. Are the sounds they
make not a form of speaking? Granted, human speech is much more sophisticated,
but that makes it only quantitatively distinct from animal verbalizations, but it is
not a qualitative distinction. More types of sounds and a greater vocabulary are not
enough to give man the distinction of being medaber.
The uniqueness of man is not just that he has a more sophisticated form of
speech, but that he can elevate his speech to being holy.
By using his speech properly, by not speaking foolishly, by avoiding defamatory speech and carrying tales, man can sanctify his speech. This is something that animals cannot do, and it is this ability to sanctify speech that merits the designation medaber.
Although the brothers' action cannot be justified, Joseph was not totally innocent. The Torah says that ''he would bring evil reports about them to his father'' (Genesis 37:2). The Midrash states that all the evil reports were groundless, and Joseph was, therefore, guilty of lashon hara, gossip.
During his enslavement and imprisonment, Joseph repented to purify himself of lashon hara. However, according to Jewish law, an offense against another person is not forgiven until one makes proper amends and asks for forgiveness from that person.
In revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph wished to tell them that he had
repented for the gossip he had spoken about them. ''I have corrected that
defective trait. I have sanctified my speech. I am now truly a medaber.''
Rashi's comment means more than that I speak Hebrew. Being polylinguistic does not yet warrant the designation of medaber. One is a medaber only if one's tongue is holy, only if one sanctifies his speech.
We should indeed take pride in having the gift of speech, but unless we sanctify our speech, we are not yet unique. Avoiding the abuse of this precious gift is what makes us unique as humans.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here.
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. is a psychiatrist and ordained rabbi. He is the founder of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, a leading center
for addiction treatment. An Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, he is a prolific author, with some 30 books to his credit, including, "Twerski on Chumash" (Bible), from which this was excerpted (Sales of this book help fund JWR).
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© 2006, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
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