By Shuva israel Editorial Staff
From the Desk of the Rabbi’s Office: Reflections on the Ashdod Shiur
We were privileged this week to join our teacher, the Rabbi, for a powerful shiur delivered in Ashdod. For those who could not attend in person, the atmosphere was one of deep introspection. The Rabbi opened our eyes to a silent crisis unfolding in our generation—one that begins in our pockets with our devices and ends in the very depths of our souls.
The Great Disconnect
The Rabbi began with a sobering observation: we are becoming a generation that is “unaccustomed” to other human beings. Despite being surrounded by people, we are increasingly alone.
He shared a fascinating story regarding a social experiment conducted in the United States. Researchers offered commuters on a subway $10 or $20 just to talk to the person sitting next to them. The result was heartbreaking—people refused. They chose their silence over connection, feeling that speaking to a stranger was “wrong” or “uncomfortable.”
Our teacher warned us that this culture of isolation is not just a social trend; it is a spiritual danger. As the Gemara teaches, “O Chevruta O Mituta”—give me companionship or give me death. When we stop talking to the shopkeeper, the neighbor, or the friend, we fall into a pit of sadness and despair. Human connection is the oxygen of the mind.
Speech: The Garment of the Soul
The Rabbi delved into the profound teachings of the Ramchal to explain why speech matters so much. He explained that speech is the “Garment of the Soul.”
Our thoughts are internal and hidden, but our soul finds expression through our words. If a person’s thoughts are holy, their speech becomes a beautiful garment. But if the mind is filled with falsehood or gossip, the “garment” of speech becomes soiled. As the Rabbi taught, “If you want to know who a person truly is, listen to what they say. The mouth is the window into the soul’s health.”
The Mystery of Tzara’at: A Divine Signal
The Rabbi then addressed the Torah portion of Tzara’at. He clarified, based on the Rambam, that Tzara’at (often mistranslated as leprosy) was never a medical condition. It was a pela—a miracle and a sign from Hakadosh Baruch Hu specifically for Am Yisrael in the Land of Israel.
Tzara’at was the ultimate “measure-for-measure” response to Lashon Hara (evil speech). Because a gossiper causes separation—between friends, between husbands and wives—Hashem causes the gossiper to be separated from society.
The Rabbi walked us through the Rambam’s description of the divine warning system:
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First, the walls of the house would change color.
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If the person didn’t do Teshuvah, their clothing was affected.
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Finally, the body itself was afflicted.
This forced the person to sit alone, outside the camp, to contemplate the pain of the isolation they caused others through their words.
Lessons from our Leaders: Moses and Miriam
The Rabbi reminded us that even the greatest among us were tested in this area.
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Moshe Rabbeinu: When he momentarily doubted whether Bnei Yisrael would listen to him, his hand was struck with Tzara’at as a sign that his words had bordered on Lashon Hara.
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Miriam HaNevi’ah: The Torah commands us to “Remember what Hashem did to Miriam.” Despite her holiness and her love for her brother Moses, her minor criticism of him resulted in her being cast out for seven days.
The Rabbi asked us to reflect: if the righteous Miriam was held to such a standard for a few words spoken in private, what is the status of our own speech in an age of social media and constant chatter?
The Slippery Slope of the Tongue
One of the most powerful moments of the shiur was the Rabbi’s explanation of the Rambam’s “Four Stages of Decline.” No one becomes an apostate overnight. It is a slow descent:
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Idle Talk: Sitting in “gatherings of the scornful,” wasting time with empty words.
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Mocking the Righteous: The idle talk turns into criticizing the Tzaddikim.
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Disrespecting the Prophets: This leads to mocking the messengers of Hashem.
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Denying the Creator: Finally, the person speaks against G-d Himself.
The Mirror of the World
Our teacher concluded with a haunting “rule of the world” that we should all take to heart. He taught us that there is a spiritual “Mirror Effect.” At the very moment you open your mouth to speak ill of another person, someone, somewhere in the world, is speaking ill of you.
The Rabbi’s final call to us was clear: we must reclaim the holiness of our speech. We must choose words of Torah, words of kindness, and words of connection. By fixing our speech, we don’t just fix our social lives; we heal the very fabric of our souls.
May we all be zoche to guard our tongues and merit the building of the Third Temple, speedily in our days.
