Rutland Jewish Center
  • Welcome to RJC
    • About >
      • Our Rabbi
      • History >
        • History to 1985
        • RJC Centennial
        • Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman
        • Rabbi Emeritus Doug Weber
      • Board + Committees
    • Application for Membership
    • Psalms For Peace and Healing
  • May 2025
  • Calendar/Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Full Calendar
  • Zoom Links 2025
  • Donate
    • Cemetery Donations
    • General Donations
  • Lifecycle Events
    • Brit Milah / Baby Naming
    • Education >
      • Youth Education
      • Adult Education
      • Rabbi Shemtov Reflections
      • Rutland Raps
    • B'nai Mitzvah
    • Weddings
    • Our Cemetery >
      • Cemetery FAQ
  • Connect
    • Klezmer Band
    • Directions
    • New to RJC?
    • Members Only >
      • Membership Directory
      • Committee Notes >
        • Cemetery
        • Communication
        • Community Outreach
        • Endowment Reports
        • Events
      • Meeting Minutes
      • Budgets
      • Yahrzeits
      • Iyyar Yahrzeits
  • Contact Us

Reflections

D'vrei Torah by Rabbi Ellie Shemtov

12-Step Torah  B'ha'alotcha 5780

6/10/2020

 
Picture
Before engaging your mouth, put your mind in gear!

Shammai used to say: ….. speak little, but do much... (Pirkei Avot 1:15)  

Speak little?  For many of us this is easier said than done.  How often have we found ourselves saying something—saying anything—in order to fill the silence in the room or because saying anything feels better than staying silent?  There are of course many times when speaking up is the natural thing to do. But even then, it’s best to be cautious and make sure to think before you speak.  We all know what’s it’s like to instantly regret the words that have just come tumbling out of our mouths.  To prevent that from happening, we should always be aware of the impact what we say, how we say it and when we say it, can have on others.  Words have power.

In this week’s Torah portion, B’ha’alotcha, Moses’ brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam spoke:

בְּמֹשֶׁ֔ה עַל־אֹד֛וֹת הָֽאִשָּׁ֥ה הַכֻּשִׁ֖ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָקָ֑ח
against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married (Num.  12:1).
 
To put it more bluntly, Aaron and Miriam gossiped about their sister-in-law, the Cushite woman.  God of course hears what they say and sticks up for Moses by dressing down the two siblings.  God then withdraws and as punishment for her harsh words, Miriam is stricken with leprosy.  Aaron however, seems to get off scot-free—but that’s a topic for another day.  Then despite his siblings’ gossip, Moses does his Moses thing and prays for Miriam to be healed.

We may have opinions about what someone should or shouldn’t be doing.  We may even be very eager to express those opinions verbally either in person or behind their back.  But just remember, before engaging your mouth put your mind in gear.

Shabbat Shalom,

Ellie
​


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    October 2024
    May 2024
    October 2023
    June 2023
    October 2022
    May 2022
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019

    RSS Feed

We Would Love to Have You Visit US!  


OFFICE Hours
​Monday—THURSDAY    11:00—3:00 pm

Telephone

802-773-3455

Email                                                               ADDRESS

[email protected]          96 Grove St. Rutland, VT 05701
  • Welcome to RJC
    • About >
      • Our Rabbi
      • History >
        • History to 1985
        • RJC Centennial
        • Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman
        • Rabbi Emeritus Doug Weber
      • Board + Committees
    • Application for Membership
    • Psalms For Peace and Healing
  • May 2025
  • Calendar/Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Full Calendar
  • Zoom Links 2025
  • Donate
    • Cemetery Donations
    • General Donations
  • Lifecycle Events
    • Brit Milah / Baby Naming
    • Education >
      • Youth Education
      • Adult Education
      • Rabbi Shemtov Reflections
      • Rutland Raps
    • B'nai Mitzvah
    • Weddings
    • Our Cemetery >
      • Cemetery FAQ
  • Connect
    • Klezmer Band
    • Directions
    • New to RJC?
    • Members Only >
      • Membership Directory
      • Committee Notes >
        • Cemetery
        • Communication
        • Community Outreach
        • Endowment Reports
        • Events
      • Meeting Minutes
      • Budgets
      • Yahrzeits
      • Iyyar Yahrzeits
  • Contact Us