The Quintessential Speaker

In this week’s Torah Portion, we learn about Moses being given the mission to warn Pharaoh of the punishments he would receive if he did not free the Jewish people.  Moses tells G-d that it is difficult for him to speak because he has sealed lips, i.e. an inability to speak.  G-d responded to Moses and said “I will send Aharon with you to assist you.  You should relay my message to Pharoh one time exactly as you heard it from me in the Hebrew language and then Aharon will translate and explain the message to Pharaoh.”

This arrangement seems superflouos if Aharon is explaining the message to Pharoh what need is there for Moses to relay the message first in a language that Pharaoh doesn’t understand?

The commentaries tell us that since Moses was the messenger of G-d and he heard the message directly from G-d, he had the unique ability to relay the intensity and force of the message.  Only after Moses transmitted the force of the message did Aharon explain the message and all of its details to Pharaoh.

This teaching can serve as an important lesson to us in our interpersonal relationships.  When we wish to impart a message, it’s not enough to make sure that the message is clear and understood but, we also have to make sure we are going over the message with heart and feeling.

There is a story of a Rabbi who was involved in combatting missionaries and intermarriage who came to the Lubavitcher Rebbe for advice on how to convince young people to leave cults.  The Rebbe gave him the following advice:

You could speak to the person for two hours and fifty-nine minutes, but if in the last minute, one word emanates from your heart, it will enter into their heart and you will have accomplished your goal”.

Based on the teaching of the Chabad Rebbes.