Devarim:The Power of Speech
The book of Deuteronomy is called in Hebrew the Book of Devarim which is translated as the book of words
Words , words and more words.
The dramatic difference between mankind and the animal kingdom is the power of speech. Words are powerful things. The ability to speak is the power of relationship, of study and of growth. Its misuse on the other hand can lead to destruction and psychological trauma and pain. The world was created with words. Relationships are built up with words. Our children discover themselves through words, theirs and ours. Words thrown about carelessly can foster hatred and can lead to the destruction of the temple, both spiritual and physical. Yet on the other hand words can create songs and words become the vessels of prayer.
That concept is especially important to consider in our days as we see the pathetic agreement that has been concocted between the world powers and Iran coming to reality. We are watching two world views collide .regrettably we are also seeing one side being manipulated and coerced into agreeing to a fatal and dangerous agreement
When words are used to deceive and manipulate they can become a difficult and dangerous tool. The difficulty becomes exacerbated when one side does not understand how the other side uses the power of speech. In the west, words are important tools and they serve as an end in itself. Words are taken seriously and though falsehood and deceit are alive and well in western cultures well, it always needs to be covered or camouflaged. The spoken word is sacred.
That is not necessarily the case in the Middle East. While it is true that the Qur’an is against believers deceiving other believers, the Qur’an seems to permit deception and falsehood aimed at the non-Muslims. This is generally known in Arabic as Taqiyya, and is within the legal category of things that are permissible for Muslims. While originally Taqiyya was meant for self-preservation, that is to say it is permissible to lie about your faith if your life is in danger it has become used more expansively as a tool for spreading Islam and in ultimately vanquishing the “enemy”.
That seems to be the reason that the West is consistently surprised and confounded when the treaties and the agreements that they assumed had been arrived at only hold as long as certain political, spiritual and armed struggle objectives have been realized.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits (Proverbs 18:21 ).
That is also the reason that the Torah pours so many words describing the importance of words. We see this again in this week’s Torah portion;
Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing Hashem has commanded. If a man makes a vow to Hashem or makes an oath to prohibit himself, he shall not violate his word; according to whatever came out of his mouth, he shall do.(NUMBERS 30:2-3)
On the words “he shall not violate his word “, Rashi writes; Lo Yichalel-he shall not profane his word,” he shall not treat his word as being unholy. — [Sifrei Mattoth 8]”
The world will gain need to understand that those imprisoned by their evil desires will profane their power of speech with relative ease. Words will become unholy and will be used for unholy purpose. Regrettably much pain will be experienced before some in the west will begin to understand this anomaly. Until then those of “Unholy Purpose” will continue to use their words as weapons.
Yet these people forget the words of G-d;” Hashem said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths?” They also forget that if Hashem so chooses He can give that power to donkeys as well for a purpose. “Then Hashem opened the donkey’s mouth,(Numbers 22:29)
Most importantly those who manipulate the power of speech will be made to realize the following;
Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But G-d will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living (Psalm 52:2-9 )
Because in the end of all things “there is a Judge and there is a judgment” .
Le-Refuat Yehudit bat Golda Yocheved
