Ki Sisa: The Middos Connection
Eric Adams, the current Mayor of New York City, had a public scuffle with the press corps this week. The part that struck me was when the mayor claimed, “My role as mayor is being interpreted through the prisms of your reality and not mine.” That is, of course, a true statement. We always interpret stories and perspectives through our own reality. It is the only one we have. In an essay titled Middos V’Deiyos, R’ Nosson Tzvi Finkel (1849–1927), known as Der Alter fun Slobodka, (loosely translated as The Sage of Slabodka), addresses the idea of prisms and our perception.
After the Jewish nation devastatingly sinned with the Golden Calf, Moshe went back up Mount Sinai to plead on behalf of the Jewish people. His mission was of course remarkably successful. At that time of graciousness Moshe enjoyed a certain unprecedented intimacy with the Almighty. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Torah tells us he asked Hashem, “Hodiyani na es d’rachecha v’ay’da’acha.” Pray let me know Your ways, so that I may know You,” Hashem responded by teaching Moshe the thirteen attributes of G-d. As the verse states:
“And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: Lord, Lord, benevolent God, who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth, preserving loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin; yet He does not completely clear [of sin], He visits the iniquity of parents on children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generations.”
Der Alter points out the link Moshe made between knowing Hashem and understanding Hashem’s ways, and the lesson we can take from the response, the thirteen attributes.
Knowing someone means we understand them. When we understand someone, we create a familiarity and an intimacy which naturally deepens our relationship. The better we understand someone, the better we know them and the better we can connect to them. Moshe understands that this principle carries over to our relationship with Hashem. Moshe seeks direction: he pleads with G-d to grant him the knowledge to understand His ways, whereby he can further deepen his connection. G-d responded by listing the honorable traits of mercy. The idea is that the best way to attain a deeper understanding of Hashem is by understanding his middos, his traits.
Der Alter explains that understanding a trait of G-d is not an abstract piece of information, it is experienced. Only a compassionate person can really understand the trait of compassion. Therefore, when we transform ourselves into more compassionate people, we shift our view and understanding into a more similar prism to Hashem’s perspective (if you will). As we transform, we begin to gain a deeper understanding of Hashem. What follows is a natural, deeper connection to Hashem.
In a way, the process of deepening our understanding of G-d can be simpler than deepening our understanding of other people. To deepen our understanding of G-d we have the thirteen traits laid out before us. The prescription is already there. The more we use the Torah to develop these essential traits, the more we understand Hashem. The more we understand Hashem, the deeper our relationship will be with Him.
SHORT VORT, Rabbi Moshe Kormornick. Published by Adir Press. $9.99 in stores worldwide and online here
Whether you are looking for something meaningful on the Parsha, an uplifting thought for Yom Tov, or have been asked to speak at a Simcha – “Short Vort” is the book for you! With over 140 incredible short vorts packed with stories and valuable life messages, you will never be lost for something inspiring to say.
Rabbi Moshe Kormornick is a popular writer whose words are enjoyed by thousands of readers every week.
