Parshas Yisro

"Hi Mom !! I arrived safely."

"And Moshe brought back the words of the people to Hashem." (Shemos 19:8) Rashi explains that the Torah is teaching us Derech Eretz (proper conduct) : A messenger should always report back to the boss when he finishes the job.

When someone is waiting for our call: Don't make them wait!!

Have a great Shabbos !!

Rabbi Chaim Flom

Dear Rabbi Flom,
I don't understand. G-d didn't know something, so Moshe had to tell Him??
Thanx.
Lynn

Is the purpose of reporting back to get the next set of instructions to be carried out?

Or only to convey information (in other cases than this) that the boss might not already know?

In other cases it might be good to report if the task is to be done before the messenger is paid the reward.

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G-d didn't know something, so Moshe had to tell Him??

Lynn, excellent question. In my understanding, Moshe had to tell Him not to inform Him, but to establish the chain of responsibility. Moshe has great authority, he is the leader, but "with great authority comes great responsibility". G-d is not only observing us, but raising us too. Even more so in the times of Moshe, when out nation was being formed.

quote:

Originally posted by rob:
Is the purpose of reporting back to get the next set of instructions to be carried out?

Or only to convey information (in other cases than this) that the boss might not already know?

In other cases it might be good to report if the task is to be done before the messenger is paid the reward.

Dear Rob,
Without Rashi, I might have assumed that we see wise business practice. "Always let your boss know if the mission was accomplished, so the business can know when to start the next step." However, Rashi tells us that the Torah is teaching us derech eretz!!
Thanks.
Chaim Flom

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Originally posted by Baltan:
Dear Rabbi Flom,
I don't understand. G-d didn't know something, so Moshe had to tell Him??
Thanx.
Lynn

Dear Lynn & Alex,
I agree with Alex that you have an excellent question. (I have a different way of answering Lynn's question, but certainly agree with his idea.) Of course Hashem knows things but we still have an obligation to do what is proper. This is the derech eretz that Rashi is talking about.
By the way, this is NOT the same as when we daven (pray) for someone who is sick. People ask, "if G-d has a plan (which we believe 100% is true), why daven?". Judaism also believes 100% that G-d listens to ALL prayers. That doesn't mean to say that I dictate to G-d what to do, and certainly (contrary to what Harold Kushner thinks) just because G-d doesn't do what I wanted Him to do, that doesn't mean He can't do anything, Chas veShalom.
Chaim Flom

Dear Rabbi Flom,
Rabbi Harold Kushner's philosophy seems to be pretty widespread in the non-Orthodox circles. What exactly is it?
Thanks.
Mark

Dear Mark,
First of all, never be impressed with something because a lot of people do it. Jews have always been in the minority of what the world thinks. We have to do what is right, not what is popular.
I am not sure what Harold Kushner held originally, but--He had a 14 year old son who died of cancer (I think). Since he prayed to G-d that his son should have a refuah sheleima and it didn't happen, he concluded that obviously, G-d is incapable of doing anything. If he didn't hold of that before his son died, I don't know how he understood millions of "innocent people" dying over the years. Judaism believes that we are too small to understand all of G-d's actions. I read an article a few years ago from him, that he prays to G-d, not because G-d can do anything,(because He can't), but just to keep his relationship with G-d. That's a funny relationship!! I don't know how he understands the many miracles that all of us have seen in our lifetimes. Also, it is pretty arrogant to think that because G-d didn't do what I wanted Him to do, He can't do anything.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

Dear Rabbi Flom,

That seems kind of similar to Elie Wiesel's philosophy, with the important difference that for Elie Wiesel, G-d is still as omnipotent as He has always been, but G-d allowed the Shoah to happen, which he says G-d had no right to do.

May such terrible events as the Shoah never happen to us again, and may our children survive us and not the other way around, but those to whom it did not happen personally can only discuss it intellectually, academically. Which is not a very ethical thing to do, in my humble opinion.

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but those to whom it did not happen personally can only discuss it intellectually, academically. Which is not a very ethical thing to do, in my humble opinion.

Dear Alex,
I am not quite sure of the point you meant by this.
Thanks.
Chaim Flom