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How can Rashi (רש"י) say the Jewish people loved Moshe when he himself said 'they want to stone me'? The shiur resolves this using Rashi's shepherd metaphor - true leaders serve completely without agenda, creating intense dependency that makes any perceived rejection devastating. Their threats came from love, not hatred.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes a perplexing Rashi (רש"י) in Parshas Matos that appears self-contradictory. The Torah (תורה) states that the Jewish people had to be drafted against their will to fight Midian, despite this being their opportunity for revenge and restoring dignity. Rashi explains this reluctance as proof of how beloved their leaders were - once they learned that Moshe's death was contingent upon victory over Midian, they refused to go voluntarily. The contradiction Rashi presents is striking: he begins by stating how precious the leaders are to the people, then immediately references an earlier incident where Moshe himself said 'they are about to stone me.' How can both statements prove the people's love for their leader?
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Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Matos 31:5
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