The Children of Israel, the whole assembly, arrived at the Wilderness of Tzin in the first month and the people settled in Kadesh. Miriam died there and she was buried there. There was no water for the assembly, …[1]
Why? Rashi[2] answers that since this statement follows immediately after the mention of Miriam’s death, we may learn from it that during the entire forty years they had the “well” through Miriam’s merit.
Continuing, … and the people quarreled with Moshe and spoke up saying, “If only we had perished as our brethren perished before Hashem! Why have you brought the congregation of Hashem to this wilderness to die there, we and our animals? And why did you have us ascend from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? — not a place of seed, or fig, or grape, or pomegranate; and there is no water to drink!”[3]
Had you been in their shoes, what would you have done at this point? Probably, what most people do: raise your own volume and shout back at them.
What did Moshe and Aharon do?
Moshe and Aharon went from the presence of the congregation to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting…[4]
What, perhaps, can this posuk mean on a deeper level?
Sometimes, when a person feels the need to release their anger, it’s better that they take flight and go to a different location - where they can simmer down - versus staying in the same place and saying things that they will later regret.
A few pesukim later it says, “Moshe and Aharon gathered the congregation before the rock and he said to them, “Listen now, O rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?”[5] When giving guidance to someone, it can be said in a negative or positive way.
Dr. Dovid Lieberman says, “Make sure to criticize the act rather than the person…”[6] It’s easier said than done. Nevertheless, how do we accomplish this task? He says, ... instead of saying, ‘You're incompetent or reckless when you...’, it’s better to say, ‘You’re such a wonderful person and this behavior doesn’t seem appropriate for someone of your refined character.”[7] This training takes practice.
Instead of Moshe saying, “Listen now, O rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?” He could have rephrased his statement by saying, “Please listen, O dear brothers, shall Hashem bring forth water for you from this rock?”
Then Moshe raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff twice…[8]
The staff is a metaphor for the tongue. Sometimes, a person can lash out their tongue at people twice. They say hurtful things which can damage a person emotionally and psychologically. Just like a rock is an inanimate object. There are people that treat others like a rock - as if they have no feelings.
The posuk continues, … abundant water came forth and the assembly and their animals drank.[9] When a person says negative statements to someone, it can deplete a person of all his motivational energy.
What lesson can we learn from Moshe as a person?
You can be the humblest people on the face of the earth. Be the leader of a nation. Yet, no one is perfect and people do lose their temper. Otherwise, why would the Torah mention this incident?
Why? Rashi[2] answers that since this statement follows immediately after the mention of Miriam’s death, we may learn from it that during the entire forty years they had the “well” through Miriam’s merit.
Continuing, … and the people quarreled with Moshe and spoke up saying, “If only we had perished as our brethren perished before Hashem! Why have you brought the congregation of Hashem to this wilderness to die there, we and our animals? And why did you have us ascend from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? — not a place of seed, or fig, or grape, or pomegranate; and there is no water to drink!”[3]
Had you been in their shoes, what would you have done at this point? Probably, what most people do: raise your own volume and shout back at them.
What did Moshe and Aharon do?
Moshe and Aharon went from the presence of the congregation to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting…[4]
What, perhaps, can this posuk mean on a deeper level?
Sometimes, when a person feels the need to release their anger, it’s better that they take flight and go to a different location - where they can simmer down - versus staying in the same place and saying things that they will later regret.
A few pesukim later it says, “Moshe and Aharon gathered the congregation before the rock and he said to them, “Listen now, O rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?”[5] When giving guidance to someone, it can be said in a negative or positive way.
Dr. Dovid Lieberman says, “Make sure to criticize the act rather than the person…”[6] It’s easier said than done. Nevertheless, how do we accomplish this task? He says, ... instead of saying, ‘You're incompetent or reckless when you...’, it’s better to say, ‘You’re such a wonderful person and this behavior doesn’t seem appropriate for someone of your refined character.”[7] This training takes practice.
Instead of Moshe saying, “Listen now, O rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?” He could have rephrased his statement by saying, “Please listen, O dear brothers, shall Hashem bring forth water for you from this rock?”
Then Moshe raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff twice…[8]
The staff is a metaphor for the tongue. Sometimes, a person can lash out their tongue at people twice. They say hurtful things which can damage a person emotionally and psychologically. Just like a rock is an inanimate object. There are people that treat others like a rock - as if they have no feelings.
The posuk continues, … abundant water came forth and the assembly and their animals drank.[9] When a person says negative statements to someone, it can deplete a person of all his motivational energy.
What lesson can we learn from Moshe as a person?
You can be the humblest people on the face of the earth. Be the leader of a nation. Yet, no one is perfect and people do lose their temper. Otherwise, why would the Torah mention this incident?