Words are powerful weapons #mishptim#prashathashavua#devartorah

The powerful song “This is Me” is an unforgettable show tune featured in The Greatest Showman, the smash movie musical loosely based on the life of P. T. Barnum and his traveling circus. The lyrics, sung by characters in the film who had suffered verbal taunts and abuse for failing to conform to societal norms, describe words as destructive bullets and knives that leave scars. The song’s popularity points to how many people bear the invisible, but real, wounds caused by weapon eyes words.

In this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, we are commanded not to strike our father or mother (Exodus 21:15) nor curse them (Exodus 21:17) Ramban in his commentary writes that cursing one’s parents is even more grievous a sin that striking them. Hostile words may be worse than hostile deeds.

Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina understood the potential danger of our words to cause destructive and long-lasting harm. “Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Death and life are in the hand of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Does the tongue have a hand? Rather the verse comes to tell you that just as a hand can kill, so too a tongue can kill. If you were to claim that just as the hand kills only from close by, so too the tongue kills only from close by, therefore the verse states: “Their tongue is a sharpened arrow” (Jeremiah 9:7). The tongue kills like an arrow that is fired from a bow, at a great distance.

“If you say that just as an arrow can kill only within the distance it can be shot, which is up to about forty or fifty cubits, so too a tongue can kill only from up to forty or fifty cubits, therefore the verse teaches: “They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth” (Psalms 73:9). This teaches that malicious speech can reach great distances, even the distance between heaven and earth.” (TB Arakhin 15b, Sefaria.org translation)

The song “This is Me” similarly challenges the truth of verbal attacks by insisting we’re all glorious. Because each human being is created in God’s image, the Torah establishes the unique dignity and beauty of each human being, not because of outward appearance or anything we have done, but we are each beautifully designed by God-His unique masterpieces. When we choose our words to each other correctly, we have the power to reinforce this reassuring reality.