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Simeon and Levi's Vengeance
Topic Started: Nov 20 2010, 07:16 AM (105 Views)
MarkStaneart
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Our Sages calculate that the younger of the two, Levi, was exactly thirteen
years old at the time. The fact that the Torah refers to him as a “man” is thus
one of the sources that 13 is the age at which the Jewish male attains the age
of manhood and daat (intellectual maturity), rendering him a bar mitzvah,
one who is bound by the commandments.

On the face of it, this seems a rather inappropriate context in which to convey
the law of bar mitzvah. Simon and Levi’s act seems the very antithesis
of daat. Indeed, Jacob denounced their deed as irrational, irresponsible and
of questionable legitimacy under Torah law. Yet this is the event that the
Torah chooses to teach us the age of reason, maturity, responsibility and
commitment to the fulfillment of the mitzvot!

But as Simon and Levi replied to Jacob, the situation that prompted their
action did not allow them the luxury of rational consideration of its consequences.
The integrity of Israel was at stake, and the brothers of Dinah
could give no thought to their own person-not to the jeopardy of their physical lives, nor to the jeopardy of their spiritual selves by the violence and
impropriety of their deed. In the end, their instinctive reaction, coming from
the deepest place in their souls-deeper than reason, deeper than all self-consideration- was validated; G-d condoned their deed and came to their assistance.

This is the message which the Torah wishes to convey when establishing the
age of reason and the obligation of mitzvot. Rare is the person who is called
upon to act as did Simon and Levi. This is not the norm; indeed, the norm
forbids it. But the essence of their deed should permeate our rational lives.
Our every mitzvah should be saturated with the self-sacrifice and depth of
commitment that motivated the brothers of Dinah.
(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
Visit Mark Staneart at www.renewourdays.com
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