A thoght on Parshas Ki Sisa
"...koran or panav...""...Moshe's face radiated..." (33:30)
Many interpretations have been offered regarding the glow associated with Moshe's face. When he descended from Mt. Sinai, his face shone, and when he spoke to the people, he masked this (verse 32).
The Ralbag offers the idea that the physical body, including the skin, is a shield which hides the deeper and loftier aspects of human functioning, namely the soul and, ideally, the mind. The more that we are involved with our physical selves, the less apparent are the spiritual features within a person. Moshe had spent forty days aloft the mountain, and beyond. All the while, his physical needs diminished and the Torah describes how he neither ate nor drink (or needed to).
The Ralbag explains that this utter devotion, the immersion in the realm of the spirit, made Moshe's physical "shield" diminish in prominence. His body became permeable, and as a result, one could see the workings of his very mind and soul. This meant that his internal focus and functioning virtually bypassed his diminished sensory self. Not only did he not feel the body senses; his spiritual process pervaded his physical appearance. When looking at Moshe, one saw radiance. One saw the glow of the mind at work beneath the skin.
In turn, the Ralbag understands, the "mask" which Moshe "put on" when speaking to the nation was not a mask. He did not put anything on. Rather, he would make an effort to pull himself away from his intense communion with the word of HaShem. This effort he made was a struggle, a sacrifice, to dim some of his higher consciousness in order to address the needs of the people. Thus, he would intentionally "mask" his intense devotion in order to interact with those who needed him.
The Ralbag compares this to how you and I may be struggling with some inner agenda of great personal importance. Even when we are sitting down to eat and drink, we find it hard to break away and stop thinking. Our appetite can fade when we are in the middle of an important inquiry. This was the struggle which Moshe encountered in his engagement with the Divine. He had to struggle to loosen his rapture when having to face the nation.
Shine on and have a good Shabbos. D Fox
Many interpretations have been offered regarding the glow associated with Moshe's face. When he descended from Mt. Sinai, his face shone, and when he spoke to the people, he masked this (verse 32).
The Ralbag offers the idea that the physical body, including the skin, is a shield which hides the deeper and loftier aspects of human functioning, namely the soul and, ideally, the mind. The more that we are involved with our physical selves, the less apparent are the spiritual features within a person. Moshe had spent forty days aloft the mountain, and beyond. All the while, his physical needs diminished and the Torah describes how he neither ate nor drink (or needed to).
The Ralbag explains that this utter devotion, the immersion in the realm of the spirit, made Moshe's physical "shield" diminish in prominence. His body became permeable, and as a result, one could see the workings of his very mind and soul. This meant that his internal focus and functioning virtually bypassed his diminished sensory self. Not only did he not feel the body senses; his spiritual process pervaded his physical appearance. When looking at Moshe, one saw radiance. One saw the glow of the mind at work beneath the skin.
In turn, the Ralbag understands, the "mask" which Moshe "put on" when speaking to the nation was not a mask. He did not put anything on. Rather, he would make an effort to pull himself away from his intense communion with the word of HaShem. This effort he made was a struggle, a sacrifice, to dim some of his higher consciousness in order to address the needs of the people. Thus, he would intentionally "mask" his intense devotion in order to interact with those who needed him.
The Ralbag compares this to how you and I may be struggling with some inner agenda of great personal importance. Even when we are sitting down to eat and drink, we find it hard to break away and stop thinking. Our appetite can fade when we are in the middle of an important inquiry. This was the struggle which Moshe encountered in his engagement with the Divine. He had to struggle to loosen his rapture when having to face the nation.
Shine on and have a good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 1:15 PM
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