 |
|
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon With its colorful cache of purples and oranges and reds, COLLARD GREEN SLAW is a marvelous mood booster --- not to mention just downright delish
April 18, 2014
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Clarifying one of the greatest philosophical conundrums in theology
John Ericson: Trying hard to be 'positive' but never succeeding? Blame Your Brain
The Kosher Gourmet by Julie Rothman Almondy, flourless torta del re (Italian king's cake), has royal roots, is simple to make, . . . but devour it because it's simply delicious
April 14, 2014
Rabbi Dr Naftali Brawer: Passover frees us from the tyranny of time
Eric Schulzke: First degree: How America really recovered from a murder epidemic
Georgia Lee: When love is not enough: Teaching your kids about the realities of adult relationships
Gordon Pape: How you can tell if your financial adviser is setting you up for potential ruin
Dana Dovey: Up to 500,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver disease. New Treatment Has Over 90% Success Rate
Justin Caba: Eating Watermelon Can Help Control High Blood Pressure
April 11, 2014
Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: Silence is much more than golden
Susan Swann: How to value a child for who he is, not just what he does
Susan Scutti: A Simple Blood Test Might Soon Diagnose Cancer
Chris Weller: Have A Slow Metabolism? Let Science Speed It Up For You
April 9, 2014
Jonathan Tobin: Why Did Kerry Lie About Israeli Blame?
Samuel G. Freedman: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Jessica Ivins: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Matthew Mientka: How Beans, Peas, And Chickpeas Cleanse Bad Cholesterol and Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
April 8, 2014
Dana Dovey: Coffee Drinkers Rejoice! Your Cup Of Joe Can Prevent Death From Liver Disease
Chris Weller: Electric 'Thinking Cap' Puts Your Brain Power Into High Gear
April 4, 2014
Amy Peterson: A life of love: How to build lasting relationships with your children
John Ericson: Older Women: Save Your Heart, Prevent Stroke Don't Drink Diet
John Ericson: Why 50 million Americans will still have spring allergies after taking meds
Sarah Boesveld: Teacher keeps promise to mail thousands of former students letters written by their past selves
April 2, 2014
Dan Barry: Should South Carolina Jews be forced to maintain this chimney built by Germans serving the Nazis?
Frank Clayton: Get happy: 20 scientifically proven happiness activities
Susan Scutti: It's Genetic! Obesity and the 'Carb Breakdown' Gene
|
| |
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).
Comment by clicking here.
© 2006, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
|
