The well-known Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 1:15) derives an important lesson from Moshe Rabbeinu’s behavior: “Any Torah scholar who lacks daas, wisdom, decorum, conduct, and manners is worse than an animal carcass; neveilah is better than he is.” Moshe Rabbeinu, the father of wisdom, the father of prophets, who took the Jews out of Egypt and was the medium through whom many miracles were wrought and who concerned himself with all aspects of the building of the Mishkan, did not enter the innermost chamber until Hashem called him. Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zl, explains why Chazal state that a talmid chacham who lacks daas is less than an animal carcass. Regardless of how offensive the carcass is in its present state, no one will posit that it would have been better had it not been created. It had value in life and is still presently worth something. The talmid chacham who lacks wisdom, who does not know or does not care how he acts publicly, is potentially damaging. Indeed, people will say it would have been better had he never studied Torah. In this respect, the flawed scholar has a lower value rating than a carcass. Obviously, we can explain much more about this comparison. In simple terms, the foul-smelling carcass is offensive to one who comes into its immediate proximity. The flawed scholar who lacks daas has a toxic effect on a larger and more far-reaching milieu.
I would rather focus on the meaning of daas in the sense of derech eretz. This term has different connotations but, in the end, it all amounts to proper character traits, which are the foundation for spiritual growth and Torah learning. Respectful behavior, proper manners, and ethical interpersonal conduct are all prerequisites for Torah observance. I must add that societal norms and values do not define our Torah standards. The Torah does. In other words, just because a certain behavior is acceptable in contemporary society, in no way means that Torah values coincide with it.
The Baal HaTurim teaches that the roshei teivos, first letters, of the word Vayikra el Moshe, vov, aleph, mem allude to the word Imo, his mother. He cites the pasuk in Shir HaShirim (3:11): B’atarah sheitrah lo imo,”Adorned with the crown the nation his mother made for him.” (B’yom chasunasu, on the day of his marriage, which is reference to the day when we accepted the Torah). Why does Baal HaTurim cite this pasuk? How is “his mother” connected to Moshe being an extraordinary baal derech eretz?
Horav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Shlita, posits that Moshe Rabbeinu learned the importance of derech eretz from his mother, Yocheved bas Levi. The Torah attests to Yocheved’s yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, in her refusal to harm the Jewish infants. Yocheved was closer in lineage to Yaakov Avinu than her husband, Amram. She was a granddaughter and one of the seventy members of Yaakov’s family who descended to Egypt to establish the Patriarchal family there. Despite Yocheved’s incredible distinction, when Amram decided to divorce her, as did all men of that generation, she did not protest or argue; she did not dissent. She could easily have demurred, but that would have demonstrated a lack of derech eretz.
This, explains the Rosh Yeshivah, is what the Baal HaTurim is teaching us. Yocheved taught Moshe the significance of derech eretz. Our quintessential leader was a good student, and he followed his mother’s lead. Thus, he hesitated, waiting to enter the Mishkan until Hashem summoned him. The Rosh Yeshivah relates that Horav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, zl, Rav of Yerushalayim, would spend his days learning in the bais ha’medrash in Batei Machseh.
Indeed, a number of elderly Jews would spend their days learning. One wintry day, when the weather was especially damp, an elderly Yid opened up a window in the shul because it was a bit warm. One of the elderly participants believed that it was Rav Yosef Chaim who had opened the window, and he began to berate him in public. He went on and on, but Rav Yosef Chaim withstood his blistering abuse. The man, however, wanted a response. Finally, Rav Yosef Chaim, told the man, “This is the house of Hashem. What right do I have to open a window in His house?” This was the spiritual plateau that Rav Yosef Chaim had achieved. Such refined derech eretz can only be the result of learning Torah 24/7.
