POWER OF SPEECH

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well. Wishing Brian a speedy recovery after his shoulder operation.

We wish Talya Bassin a successful year for her study program in Eretz Yisrael, where she has now arrived. Enjoy this wonderful opportunity Talya!

Mazal Tov to Mendel Gollub and the Levy Family, on his wedding this week. The couple should build an everlasting Jewish home. Only continued simchos!

SPEECH came up a few times this week in our current Sedra, Yisro, and with the Hebrew Word of the Week from Rabbi Kalmenson.

DIBBUR (Hebrew word for SPEECH)

Everyone has experienced the power of words in one way or another - A kind word that soothes a broken heart, an authentic compliment that inspires confidence and motivates success, or a disparaging word that crushes the spirit, potentially leaving life-long scars.

Words can harm or heal, but not just because of the thoughts they trigger.

Judaism teaches that a spoken word holds tremendous power. According to the Torah, the world itself was “spoken” into being by G‑d (Genesis 3:1)

This is reflected in the Hebrew word for speech being dibbur with the same root as the Hebrew word davar, meaning an item. Ie once a word has been articulated, it becomes a reality, with a life of it’s own, and ripples out further into the world.

Sedra

In V 19:3 it says “So shall you SAY (tomar) to the House of Jacob, and TELL (taged) to the Children of Israel.

And Rashi explains that the House of Jacob refers to the women (home refers to a woman’s role). Here the terminology used is tomar, which is gentle speech. Ie we should speak gently to women.

The Children of Israel (Sons) refers to the men. Here the terminology used is tagged , which refers to hard, tough talk (giddim are sinews). They should be told what are the Mitzvos and what are the punishments

And then in V 20:1 and further we have the Ten Commandments (aseres HADIBROT)

Wishing everyone a Good and Happy Shabbos