When you’re in love, all kinds of things can happen. One of them is the capacity to minimize the faults of your beloved, even to an extreme. We see evidence of this in our Parsha.
The Torah addresses various types of sin offerings. One is the offering of the High Priest who inadvertently transgressed. The Torah goes into detail to describe the mechanics of the offering. The next scenario is when the nation sins, an inadvertent transgression due to an erroneous ruling by the Sanhedrin. Potentially, this could even be a transgression related to idolatry. When addressing the mechanics of the offering, the Torah declines to offer as many details as in the previous scenario.
Rashi explains, “And why are they not stated here explicitly? It was taught in the School of Rabbi Yishmael: About this may be given a parable of a king who was angry with his favorite subject but spoke only briefly of his offense because of the affection he had for him.”
When it comes to the Jewish people, Hashem’s love for them is so powerful that He actively reduces the discussion of their flaws to protect their dignity.
What does this tell is about how we should live? Humans are often critical of one another. Sometimes, those closest to us are the greatest targets of our criticism. Hashem demonstrates to us that love is meant to diminish our negative perspectives of each other.
We are one people, all beneficiaries of Hashem’s powerful love. As we interact with one another, let us remember that if the Hashem is willing to reduce the discussion of the flaws of the Jewish nation, even when they inadvertently offended Him in the worst way, how much more so should we value and love each other.
A united and loving Jewish nation is unassailable. Together we are strong. Last Shabbat our family had the honor and pleasure of hosting Assaf and Ido, two IDF officers who are traveling after completing five years of grueling service in defense of Jewish life. One of the things that moved them, almost to tears, was hearing how much the children (and adults) in our community prayed for them and lovingly supported them as they defended us.
They are on a healing trip around the world to help them recover from the emotional toll that their time in Gaza took on them. Feeling the love while sitting at our Shabbat table and visiting the children at Slater Torah Academy a few days later, really jumpstarted their healing process.
“Hinei ma tov u’ma na’im shevet achim gam yachad. – How good and pleasant it is for brothers to sit together.”
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin
PS The sale of chametz can be done in person at Shul over the next few days, or online at www.chabadneworleans.com/chametz.