This week’s parsha is about Moshe rebuking the Children of Israel for all of the places that they angered Hashem during their forty years in the desert. He hides what he is actually saying though. Moshe does not come out and remind them about the Golden Calf, the terrible tragedy that happens with the daughters of Moav and Midian, and all of their rebellions. Moshe only hints to them. Why doesn’t Moshe come out and give a full rebuke? If they did something wrong, shouldn’t he “give it to them”

One time, the great Rav Yisroel Meir HaCohen Kagan, also known as the Chofetz Chaim, visited an inn. He went to the dining hall and in there was a man making a commotion. He was yelling, screaming, and being very rude. The Chofetz Chaim called over the owner of the inn and asked about this man. The owner told him that the man was taken away to the Russian Army at a young age and was forced to serve in it for twenty-five years. He went through torture because they found out that he was Jewish. The Chofetz Chaim rose from his chair and started walking towards the man. The innkeeper quickly grabbed him and told the great rabbi not to say anything to the veteran. The last time someone tried to rebuke his behavior, they received the present of a bloody lip. The Chofetz Chaim refused to stop and went to the man.

The Chofetz Chaim, a very short, old man, greeted the large, unruly man. The man gave the Rav a stare and nastily asked him what he wanted. The Chofetz Chaim smiled and mentioned that he wished he could have the other man’s portion in the world to come. The man started laughing and asked why the Chofetz Chaim was playing this joke on him. The Chofetz Chaim became very serious and explained what he meant. He said that this other man had certainly gone through much torture within the Russian army. The only reason he went through that pain was because he was a Jew. Despite all of the pain, though, the man did not deny he was Jewish nor give up his religion. What this man did in the Russian army was the greatest Kiddish Hashem (sanctifying Hashem’s name) that could ever be performed. The Chofetz Chaim mentioned that even with all of the books that he had written and the people that he had influenced, his portion in the world to come could not match this former soldier’s. The big man began to have tears in his eyes. The Chofetz Chaim then continued and asked the man if he wanted even a greater portion than he already has. Finally, the Chofetz Chaim, very gently, mentioned that if the person keeps Shabbos, kashrus, and the other mitzvos and, most of all, behaves nicely towards others , then he could even secure a better portion. The man listened and accepted to start to become a ba’al tshuvah (master of repentance).

This is why Moshe did not blast the people. The only proper way to rebuke someone else is to do it gently, and it is also much more effective. Sometimes we get very aggravated and want to yell and scream at wrongdoers. The only results that will come are making the victim of the yelling more upset at you and acquiring a sore throat for yourself. The Chofetz Chaim learned from Moshe how to rebuke. Do it gently. Constantly keep in mind how you would want someone else to rebuke you.

Good Shabbos!
-yes

Rabbi Yaakov Seltzer
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www.divreisimcha.com OR www.chesedclub.com > Torah Study