Rabbi's Corner

Imagine you are standing out in the pouring rain trying to open your front door, and you find that the key will not turn.  You try and you try and you try, but it just will not turn.  So what do you do?  You become frustrated and angry and try to force the key to turn.  And the result is that the key breaks off in the lock.  Now it is most certain that you cannot get into your home.  Not only that, you have destroyed both the key and the door lock.  If only you had stepped back, taken a moment to calm yourself down, and given some thought to the problem at hand, you would have realized that you had the key in the wrong way.  What prevented you from solving the problem?  Your momentary anger.  We see this illustrated in this week's double parashah, Parashat Mattot/Mas'ei. 

We read the following: "Moshe was angry with the commanders of the army...." (BeMidbar 31;14)  What was he angry about?  The commanders had made the decision to spare the lives of of all the Midyanite women and children in spite of the orders they received to the contrary.  In his anger, Moshe gave incorrect instructions as to how to kasher (purify) the implements of war they had used during the battle with the Midyanites.  It was Elazar, the Kohen Gadol who, having succeeded his father Aharon after his death, gave the proper instructions as to what to do with the implements of war.  It was Elazar and not Moshe who taught these laws to the B'nei Yisrael.  Because Moshe had become angry, his instincts and not his wisdom prevailed preventing him from teaching the people the laws of purification regarding dead bodies.  His anger prevented him from remembering what these laws were in spite of the fact that HaShem had taught them to him.  Thus we see the inherent danger in becoming angry.

Becoming angry and expressing that anger can destroy in an instant the years of investment in a relationship with another human being.  Being angry destroys one's health, eats away at being happy, and causes a person to lose the ability to think clearly.  Holding yourself back from reacting instinctively and negatively in a fit of anger, will enable you to act rationally.  Remember: anger is only one letter short danger.