One, using "pshat" and "midrash" that we have studied in class.
Use either the Bamidbar (The Scouts or Moses Strikes the Rock)
or Vayikra (Holiness Codes Texts)
One, from Shmot or Devarim, where you will use the pshat that we have studied,
a midrash that you must find, and your own personal midrash.
Use either the Bamidbar (The Scouts or Moses Strikes the Rock)
or Vayikra (Holiness Codes Texts)
One, from Shmot or Devarim, where you will use the pshat that we have studied,
a midrash that you must find, and your own personal midrash.
(ג) אִ֣ישׁ אִמּ֤וֹ וְאָבִיו֙ תִּירָ֔אוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (ד) אַל־תִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלִילִ֔ים וֵֽאלֹהֵי֙ מַסֵּכָ֔ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשׂ֖וּ לָכֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(3) Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and ye shall keep My sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Right before God gives the people the commandments, or the holiness codes, Moses led his people out of Egypt. Moses saw the burning bush, split the red sea, and saved his followers from being worked to death by Pharoah. This text is important because this specific code to fear every mother and father is very impactful. We have never been been taught to fear our parents, we have only been taught to respect them. This text tells us that in order to be holy and respected by the Lord, we absolutely must fear our mother and out father. How are we supposed to trust and have faith in our parents if we are too busy being scared of them?
19:3 Revere his mother and his father: According to the Talmud, this requires that we refrain from publicly challenges our parents and from "sitting in their chair". The Torah would regard each of our parents equally with reverence and love and would have each parent represent both discipline and forgiveness in the child's mind. (Etz Hayim)
This midrash is meaningful and important because it takes the pshat and translates it into a language that is more understandable for us. It clarifies that we are not necessarily supposed to fear our mother and our father, but we are supposed to revere them. Revering means to respect them so much that you are afraid of how they can punish you. This midrash tells us not to "sit in their chair" which means that we are not allowed act as though we have their power and should be treated equally. The Etz Hayim Humash is a book with the Hebrew text directly from the torah alongside the english translation. The translation is about the pshat and from there, they add in their own opinions to create the drash/midrash.
This text, Leviticus 19:3-4, states that, "Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father". We are to respect our mother and our father so much that we are supposed to fear them. We are told to be afraid every time we interact with them and be terrified of their consequences. Being a typical teenage girl, can be sassy and rude from time to time. I overlook my boundaries and talk to my mom as though she is one of my friends. I talk back and start arguments that are unnecessary and absolutely impolite. Before I read this text earlier in the year, I continuously acted like a spoiled child. When I further analyzed the text and read the midrash, i realized that it was my turn to take matters into my own hands and start changing the way i act. Now, i treat my mother the way she should be treated. My mom is my hero and my everything and she deserves to be treated like royalty. Even though I have my own opinions and arguments i could start, i refrain from starting them or stating them for the sake of my relationship with my mother and also to obey the rules commanded by God. My mom and I now have a better relationship than ever and i have this text to thank. Without reading and analyzing this text in class, i would not have changed the way I act and It is possible that I would have an even worse relationship with my mother.