The classic Chumash one will find in a Modern Orthodox synagogue is the Hertz Chumash. It offers the commentary of Rabbi Dr. Joseph H. Hertz (b. 1872 d. 1946). Rabbi Dr. Hertz was the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth from 1913 until he passed away in 1946. As I was reading his commentary on this past week's Torah portion of Noah I couldn't help but be amused at the following quote discussing the incident of Ham's transgression against his father Noah:
Some Jewish and non-Jewish teachers omit this story in children's Bible classes. Yet, it is of deep significance in a child's moral training. An intelligent child cannot help now and then detecting a fault or something to laugh at in his parents; but instead of mockery or callous exposure, it is for him to throw the mantle of filial love over the fault and turn away his face. 'Am I the one to judge my parents?' a child should ask himself. Few Jewish children have parents who are drunkards, but there is a great number whose fathers and mothers do not, e.g., speak the language of the land as fluently as they do. Instead of laughing at them, Jewish children should be taught to feel: 'Have my parents had the opportunities in life that they have given me?' - pg. 34
No comments:
Post a Comment