The Power of Speech of the Tzaddikim Had Nothing to Do With Linguistic Abilities
The True Meaning of the Power of Speech
Let us delve further and seek to understand the connection between Middas HaMalchus and our ability to express ourselves through speech.
The obligation of לבנך והגדת is a mitzvah that the Ribbono shel Olam has given to every single Yid, beginning at bar mitzvah. From that moment, a Yid is obligated in this mitzvah. This is the halachah. One who doesn’t have a child must tell the story to another person, and one who doesn’t have another person must say the story to himself: Every Yid must employ his koach hadibbur, his power of speech, on that holy night.
The Power of Speech Among the Nations of the World
To understand the connection, let us examine the contrast in speech—which draws from the Middas HaMalchus—between Yidden and the nations of the world.
We see among the goyim extremely talented orators, high in demand, who command exorbitant sums for their speeches. A former president of the United States can ask for 250,000 for a speech.
We also see the concept of goyim who have tremendous oratorical skill and talent. Sometimes we hear quips and sayings from non-Jewish orators that people repeat years later. There exists among them the koach hadibbur, the power of speech.
The Words Themselves
L’havdil, when we’re talking about great tzaddikim who spoke holy words to their followers, we never speak about their abilities or their oratorical talent, saying that the tzaddik could keep his audience spellbound for four hours....
Of course, there’s such a thing as a good ba’al darshan—and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are people who can tell a story and hold their audience enthralled because they’re so pleasant to listen to, but this is not what we live on. When we speak about our rebbeim, ba’alei ruach hakodesh, who were utterly and completely nullified to the Ribbono shel Olam, and we repeat their holy words, we live from their Torah, not from the way in which their words were delivered!
Furthermore, there were tzaddikim who were barely audible, especially in their old age. It was very difficult to hear their divrei Torah. There were those who didn’t possess clear speech, and it wasn’t very pleasant to listen to them—but no one looked at any of that!
