In Parshat Behaalotecha we read how Miriam is punished after speaking about her brother Moshe. Later in the Torah (Ki Teitzei 24:9) we are commanded to always remember what Miriam. This is one of the Shesh Zechirot, 6 events that we are supposed to remember on an ongoing bases. The other five events are: Exodus from Egyot, Matan Torah, Amalek’s attack, the golden calf, and Shabbat. Why is this sin of Miriam’s worthy of remembering?
The story of Miriam is critical to remember daily because it reminds us of our power of speech. We are aware of the evils and dangers of lashon hara, even if we do not apply those lessons to our lives often enough. But the story of Miriam highlights a lesser appreciated power/ peril of our speech:
How we talk about someone/ something will impact how we relate to them (even if that person never finds out). The Torah’s concern about what Miriam said was really a concern about how her words would impact how she (and possibly the rest of Bnei Yisrael) would relate to Moshe.
The sin of Miriam is her challenge to Moshe’s level of prophecy. Whatever the complaint was, part of it was that Miriam equated Moshe to all other prophets, herself included. A principle of our faith is that Moshe is singularly unique in his level of prophecy. This must be the case- otherwise there is the possibility of a future prophet abrogating the Torah, by claiming that he is more qualified than Moshe. Now can we fathom that Miriam meant to hurt Moshe? Of course not- this is his older sister, who risked her life to save Moshe when he was a baby. Nevertheless, how she talked about him impacted how she related to Moshe- the real concern.
How we speak also has a profound impact on those whom we influence: peers, friends, children. The story of Miriam concludes Parshat Behaalotcha. Parshat Shelach begins with the sin of the spies. Rashi quotes the Midrash that the juxtaposition comes to teach that the spies did not learn from the sin of Miriam. I think one can go a step further and suggest that the juxtaposition teaches us that the spies, leaders of the people, learned from the speech of Miriam. They did not hesitate to speak disparagingly against the Land of Israel because their role model Miriam did not hesitate to speak disparagingly against the Prophet of Israel.
Let me end with a poem on this topic of the power of our speech, author unknown:
What are you saying; are your words good or bad,
Positive or negative, happy or sad?
The words of your mouth lead to failure or success.
Do you ever wonder how you got into that mess
You are in charge of the words that you speak.
Will you be strong, or will you be weak?
Do you speak words of sickness, or words of health?
Do you speak of poverty, or are your words of wealth?
What you say each day is what comes to pass in your life.
Are your days full of peace, or are they full of strife?
Your life will reflect the words that you say.
Speak positive, uplifting words and life will manifest that way.
Speak negative, depressing, 'Oh, poor me' kind of things...
Then the road to failure is what these words will bring.
It's your choice; it's up to you.
What are you saying; what will you do?
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