The Torah states: And the officers of the Children of Israel, whom the taskmasters of Pharaoh had set over them, were beaten ... (Exodus 5:14). Why were they beaten and what lesson for life do we learn from it? These officers were Israelites. They had pity on their fellow Israelites and did not force them to fill their quotas. When the officers handed over bricks to the Egyptian taskmasters, the taskmasters beat them for not having pressed the workers to fill their quotas. The Chofetz Chaim writes that leaders very often take unfair advantage of the people under them. The just mode of behavior, however, is never to act condescendingly to others, even if you are elevated to a rank above them. Arrogance is a trait which is strictly forbidden. According to some authorities the prohibition against arrogance is listed among the 613 commandments of the Torah. We should learn from the officers of the Children of Israel who not only did not take unfair advantage of those under them, but who even suffered physical pain to aid them.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 21:24:02 +0000
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