Soft speech saves us from anger

by HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

G-d commands Moshe and Aharon, “Speak to the boulder in Israel’s presence, and it will give forth its water” (Bamidbar 20:8). Moshe, instead of speaking, smites the boulder: “Moshe struck the boulder twice with his staff” (Ibid., v. 11). Rashi explains (Ibid., v. 12): “Had you spoken to the boulder and had it brought forth water, I would have been sanctified before the whole congregation, for they would have said, ‘This boulder, which cannot speak or hear, and needs no livelihood, fulfills G-d’s word. How much more so that we should fulfill G-d’s word.’ Now that you - by hitting the boulder - have failed to sanctify G-d’s name in public, Israel has been punished. Therefore, you will not bring this community into the land that I have given them.”

From here we derive a major educational principle: Verbal persuasion is infinitely better than persuasion by force, expressed as verbal or physical violence, i.e., blows. Instead of listening to others, and instead of speaking and persuading by calm and pleasant means, people get angry, shout, lift their hands and sometimes even their knives, and come to bloodshed and murder - Heaven help us!

The solution to this terrible situation is education - education based on values of respect and love for one’s fellow man. Such values as showing respect to one’s parents and treating one’s family members, one’s spouse, and children, with respect, are acquired through improving one’s own character. This is particularly the case regarding the traits of anger and arrogance. These values serve to fashion a person who possesses restraint, one who is in control of his passions and his weaknesses. The fountain and source from which the Jewish People have always drawn and will continue to draw these values are our holy Torah and Jewish Tradition.

We must get rid of the violence in our midst by means of love and faith. Moreover, we must recall the words of guidance from Igeret HaRamban: “Soft speech saves us from anger.”

Besorot Tovot,
Looking forward to complete salvation,
With the Love of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael,

Shabbat Shalom.