After Yisrael Mordechai's Bris

This morning I attended the bris of my second cousin's son. He was named for my second cousin by marriage's father who was a prominent and special rabbi and man - yehi zichro baruch. They both spoke beautifully, mostly about her father. There's a phrase he liked, Yisrael Mentsch, coined - apparently - by Rabbi S.R. Hirsch, which Aliza aptly applied to her father. She also cited from Rabbi Norman Lamm's explanation that mentsch ultimately means ish -man, as in bemakom she'ein anashim hishtadel lihiyot ish - where there are no men, strive to be a man.

She cited from a talk of Rabbi Lamm, in which he explores aspects of the word ish, as used in the beginning of Moshe's story. Vayar ki ein ish. Moshe did not vacillate. He realized what had to be done, stepped up, and did it. On the other hand, he pointed out the medrash, which says that Moshe was discerning. In this latter approach the word ish applies to the man Moshe felt deserved death. He looked at this man and saw no-one of moral worth, not at present, and not in generations. Also he pointed to, "Ve'Ha'Ish Moshe Anav..." - Moshe the man was exceedingly humble. He was humble in the truest (as opposed to popular misconceptions of the characteristic) sense of the word.

As Shabbos approaches I will be thinking about the lovely Torah and words of tribute which I heard today. There's so much more, perhaps I'll write it at another time. But there's nothing like writing about something as it is still settling into your heart.