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We are Family
Ask your father and he will tell you, [ask] your grandfather and he will relate it to you (32:7).
Rashi (ad loc) explains that “your father” in the verse refers to our prophets, who are called our fathers as we find by Eliyahu Hanavi, and “your grandfather” refers to the sages (see Vayikra 19:32 and Rashi there). Why is it that prophets are described as parents and sages likened to grandparents?
The Torah uses two words in this verse to describe the transmission of information: When your father is telling it to you, the Torah uses the word “veyagedcha,” whereas when your grandfather is relaying it over to you, the Torah uses the word “v’yomru.” Rashi (Shemos 19:3) explains that “hagada” is a harsher language than “amira.” In other words, parents tell their kids what to do because they have a responsibility to influence their behavior. Grandparents, on the other hand, have a responsibility to give their grandchildren a perspective, not to tell them what to do. In fact, when a grandparent begins to tell a grandchild what to do he begins fighting with his own child (the parent of the grandchild).
Obviously, there is a fine line between influencing your child’s behavior and controlling it. Occasionally, when a parent is overly harsh and controlling with his own child, the child begins to resent it (“you’re not the boss of me”). This is the source of most parent-child issues; who’s in control. This also explains why grandparents and grandchildren are natural allies – they share a common “enemy.”
Our prophets are charged with transmitting orders from Hashem and are therefore constantly urging us to change our behavior. They are telling us what to do. This is why they are referred to as our “father.” On the other hand, the sages role is to define the responsibilities that the Torah requires of us and their primary role is to relay the information, not to tell us what to do; which is why our sages are called our “grandfather.” A prophet enjoins the people to do, while the sages inform the people what they should do.
Rashi (ad loc) explains that “your father” in the verse refers to our prophets, who are called our fathers as we find by Eliyahu Hanavi, and “your grandfather” refers to the sages (see Vayikra 19:32 and Rashi there). Why is it that prophets are described as parents and sages likened to grandparents?
The Torah uses two words in this verse to describe the transmission of information: When your father is telling it to you, the Torah uses the word “veyagedcha,” whereas when your grandfather is relaying it over to you, the Torah uses the word “v’yomru.” Rashi (Shemos 19:3) explains that “hagada” is a harsher language than “amira.” In other words, parents tell their kids what to do because they have a responsibility to influence their behavior. Grandparents, on the other hand, have a responsibility to give their grandchildren a perspective, not to tell them what to do. In fact, when a grandparent begins to tell a grandchild what to do he begins fighting with his own child (the parent of the grandchild).
Obviously, there is a fine line between influencing your child’s behavior and controlling it. Occasionally, when a parent is overly harsh and controlling with his own child, the child begins to resent it (“you’re not the boss of me”). This is the source of most parent-child issues; who’s in control. This also explains why grandparents and grandchildren are natural allies – they share a common “enemy.”
Our prophets are charged with transmitting orders from Hashem and are therefore constantly urging us to change our behavior. They are telling us what to do. This is why they are referred to as our “father.” On the other hand, the sages role is to define the responsibilities that the Torah requires of us and their primary role is to relay the information, not to tell us what to do; which is why our sages are called our “grandfather.” A prophet enjoins the people to do, while the sages inform the people what they should do.
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