Rabbi S. Z. UlmanEveryone knows that there can be speaking words, which is hard, and talking, which is soft. Some plants thrive on heavy rainfall while others thrive on occasional showers.
And corresponding to them are people who only need compassion while others need stern justice. Some need gentle speaking; others require hard talk. Each one receives what is best according to his or her needs
Rabbi Lawrence Kushner: Our teacher, R. Solomon Ulman, is intrigued by the kind of words that Moses describes in referring to his own speech. What is actually meant by such a description?
The poetry works. Words, like rain, can be soft like morning dew that gently offers itself the earth's vegetation, tending to its growth. Or words can be like torrential rains that destroy and uproot.
Just as plants need different rains to nurture their growth, people need different words as well. There are times when gentle speech is required and there are times when harsh words of rebuke are needed. Know well the kind of words needed and speak them well, warns our teacher. All words, when properly delivered, are of the living God.
The last thing Moses does before offering the people his deathbed blessings is to teach them a song. What role has song played in your life? When are you most likely to be touched by song or music? What songs do you remember best? Why?