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Why does Rashi (רש"י) say parents must be prepared to be cursed and stoned by their children? The shiur develops the Torah (תורה)'s radical perspective that true leadership and parenthood means viewing others' problems as your own. When we're unified as one people, distant Jews' spiritual struggles aren't their problem to solve—they're our responsibility.
This shiur explores the profound Torah (תורה) perspective on unity and responsibility through the dramatic complaint of Moshe Rabbeinu in Parshas Beha'aloscha. The context is crucial: the Jewish people were only ten days away from entering Israel when they began complaining about the journey, food, and marriage restrictions. This seemingly minor complaining triggered a 3,000-year delay that continues today, transforming what should have been a ten-day trip into our ongoing exile. Moshe's frustration leads him to ask God why he must bear the burden of leadership, saying "Did I conceive these people? Did I give birth to these people?" Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary reveals a shocking insight: parenthood means being prepared to be cursed and stoned by one's children. This runs counter to most people's understanding of proper parenting, where children are expected to show respect and parents maintain authority.
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Parshas Beha'aloscha 11:12
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Why does the Torah separate Avrohom's eulogy for Sarah from his crying for her? The shiur shows that Sarah required a public eulogy focused on the communal loss of a leader, not Avrohom's private grief. This teaches that we must view Jewish tragedies through a national lens first, seeing attacks on Am Yisrael as collective losses that dwarf personal concerns.
