[Avodah] One Hands or Two

[rebshrink at aol.com]

When Moshe places both hands on Yehoshua, Rashi tells us that he is
fulfilling G-d's command "B'Ayin Yafah" and in so doing "Umilu
Chachmato B'Ayin Yafah" and filling him (Yehoshua) with his wisdom
"B'Ayin Yafah".   The term "Ayin Yafah" is used for giving Terumah
Gedolah to the Kohen (Terumot 4:3) and broadly means "gnerously" as
oppose to "Ayin Raah" which means "stingily".  The term is important
because with it Rashi understands why Moshe is not viewed as
transgressing G-d's Mitvah of "V'Samachta Yado (singular) Alav".

It would seem according to Rashi that Moshe's actions are viewd as an
act of "Hidur Mitzvah" like adding candles to the Chanukah Menorah or
perhaps giving 1/40th of one's produce to the Kohen as opposed to
1/50th (Ayin Beinoni) or 1/60th (Ayin Harah).   Thus, the two hand
performance is viewed as a commendable beautifying and enhancing of
G-d's Mitvah, rather than a violation.

On the other hand, Moshe's striking the rock in anger rather than at
least speaking to it (which was the command) first is an act of
omission (he speaks to the Ahm, not to the rock).   In this case
hitting the rock can not be seen as "Hidur Mitzvah" since it is a
totally different P'ulah (action) from speaking to it, with which Moshe
could have taught the people (as Rashi explains) that if an inanimate
object which requires no maintenance by Hashem obeys Him, should we not
all the more so obey him.   Furthermore, one could derive from Moshe's
striking the rock twice almost the opposite:   even inanimate objects
need to be forced (strike one) and punished (strike two) to fulfill the
will of G-d, who is obviously therefore not that awe inspiring or
powerful.  Moshe's actions by Mei Merivah perhaps creates a Bizui
Mitzvah (a belittling of the Mitvah) rather than Hidur Mitzvah and he
is punished severely.

Kol Tov,

Stu Grant