As Heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“Remember that which Hashem your G-d did to Miriam on the way when you went out from Egypt” (24:9)

This is a command of the Torah. I cannot tell you how often we are to fulfill this commandment. Some Siddurim say it should be said every day. The Chafetz Chaim based his sefer on this. We are not merely commanded, “Not to go around being tale-bearers amongst our people,” (Vayikra 19:16) but to remember what happened to Miriam, and the sin of Miriam was the sin that she was not judging others favorably.

Miriam’s sin was really quite small. First, she posed it as a question. “Is it not that we also speak with Hashem?” (Bamidbar 12:2) It was a legitimate question. After all Miriam was a prophetess herself, and received prophecy before Moshe. So why was she punished? Because the closer one is to Hashem, the more one is held accountable, and Miriam was very great. However, she misunderstood the perfection of Moshe and the immensity of the prophecy Moshe received from Hashem.

This event was made part of the Torah with the intention of teaching us the importance of judging others favorably and giving them the benefit of the doubt, and that the evil of lashon hara does not only bring Tzaraat, but a great many other forms of suffering. Much suffering descends upon a person because of speaking lashon hara.

“When a camp goes out to war against your enemies.” (Debarim 23:10)

You have no enemies except for yourself, and except for the Yetzer Hara, which everyone ignores. Your enemy is not that other man. Oh, he may want to kill you, but he can only take away your life. The Yetzer Hara wants to take away your Neshama/Soul. He is the real enemy.

Quoted from “The Path of Life” by Rabbi Yehoshua Danese

Shabbat Shalom

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