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What connects the four specific sins Rashi (רש"י) lists that caused Moshe to fall on his face? Through analyzing Miriam's lashon hara and the spies' negative report, the shiur shows these sins share a pattern of negative perspective stemming from unwillingness to give. Korach represents the endpoint - moving from negative thinking to pure taking.
Rabbi Zweig presents a profound analysis of Rashi (רש"י)'s comment that Moshe fell on his face after the fourth sin the Jewish people committed. Rashi lists four specific sins: the golden calf, Mesonim (complaining), the spies, and Korach's rebellion, while omitting other transgressions that occurred between them. The shiur explores what unifies these particular sins. The analysis begins with a deep textual reading of the story of Miriam speaking against Moshe. Through careful examination of the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s interpretation, Rabbi Zweig demonstrates that there are two types of lashon hara: one that harms the subject by putting them down, and another that primarily harms the speaker through negative perspective. The Rambam learns from the text that Miriam didn't intend to denigrate Moshe and that it didn't bother Moshe, yet she was still punished.
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Parshas Korach 16:1-3, Parshas Shelach
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