Rabbi Yisrael Lifshitz, a well-known commentator on the Mishnah, included a provocative legend about Moshe Rabbeinu in his writings, suggesting that Moshe naturally possessed negative character traits. Over the following decades, some rabbis strongly opposed this legend, arguing that its claims were baseless and defamed Moshe’s revered image. In this class, we’ll talk about the origins of this controversial story, look at both sides of the debate, and explore why this account struck a chord with many Chasidic authors. The Provocative Portrait: Unveiling the True Face of Moshe Rabbeinu