Hashem created us with two lips to allude to the two functions of the mouth: to speak in Torah and to be silent as in וכאלם לא יפתח פיו, like a mute who doesn’t open his mouth.
These two are represented by Moshe and Aharon. Moshe symbolizes Torah since he gave the Torah to us. Aharon, on the other hand, symbolizes silence as it states וידם אהרן.
One who uses a calling card knows that his minutes are limited. He therefore doesn’t speak unnecessarily.
We need to internalize the explanation of R’ Michel Zlotchover on יחיל ה' מדבר קדש: Hashem yearns (יחיל) to hear holy words from us, says.
In whose portion is the Beis Hamikdash found? Binyomin. Why? Because he used his mouth properly, as the Midrash tells us. This is what the Beis Hamikdash is as it is called תל תלפיות because תל שכל פיות פונים, the hill to which all mouths turn.
The Chofetz Chaim would say just as with weapons one needs to keep it fresh for it to always be available to use, the same is with our mouth as this is our weapon—אין כחו אלא בפיו, our power is with the mouth.
Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of three books including the recently released Extraordinary Insights, in addition to being the host of The Fascinating Insights Podcast. His writings, some of which have been translated into Hebrew, German and French, inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in Kiryat Yearim (where the Aron was for 20 years [Shmuel 1, 7:1,2]) where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
