Rabbi’s Blog
This week is a big one. Labour day marks the end of summer, the kids are back to school, and pretty soon we will see the leaves begin to turn. The High Holy Days are almost upon us, which itself involves another type of returning.
We are now in the month of Elul, which Rabbi Jacob Emden points out, has the same numerical value as the word binah, which means understanding. Through understanding, he teaches, comes teshuvah (repentance or return.)
One way that we seek traditionally understanding during this month is through reading and learning texts that admonish such as musar texts (a special type of Jewish self-improvement literature), Maimonides’ section of his writings called “The Laws of Repentance,” and even focusing on the Torah readings of the book of Deuteronomy which contains Moses’ final sermons, along with blessings and curses. This Shabbat we will read from the book’s last legal section in which we find more admonition.
We read, “If you see your fellow’s ox or sheep gone astray, do not ignore it; you must take it back to your fellow….You shall do the same with his ass; you shall do the same with his garment and so shall you do with anything that your fellow loses and you find: you must not remain indifferent. Lo tuchal l’hitalem.” (Deut. 22:1-3)
The Torah says this twice, “You shall not remain indifferent.” It therefore must be important.
Indeed, on Yom Kippur we will confess: “For the sin of indifference.” The Hebrew word l’hitaleim literally means “to hide oneself.” We are not permitted to hide ourselves from our neighbours when they need our help—we must look out for others, not just ourselves.
Buyer beware is not a Jewish value; rather, we are reminded that we are our brothers’ keepers.
Our parashah tells us this in several ways through its laws: roof porches must be fenced in; interest may not be charged on loans to the needy; the shirt off someone’s back may not be taken in pawn; the tools of someone’s livelihood may not be seized to compel the repayment of a loan. We must look out for others. My rights must not be pressed at the expense of someone else’s dignity.
This is the essence of what it means to be part of a community—we look out for each other; we are responsible for one another.
During this month of Elul, consider how we are embodying these values and how we can resolve to uphold them even better than we already do.
I am reminded of this prayer written by my teacher, Rabbi Richard Sarason:
Help us, O God, to enlarge ourselves by enlarging our spheres of caring and concern. Help us to hear the cries—both voiced and unvoiced—of those around us and to respond more fully to them. Help us to build in this place a more caring and learning community. May we never hide ourselves from others so that You may never be hidden from us. For this is the fast You desire:
To unlock the shackles of injustice,
To break every cruel chain,
To share our bread with the hungry
To bring the homeless poor into our houses.
When we see the naked, to clothe them,
And never to hide ourselves from our fellows.
When there is a call, may You and we answer;
When there is a cry, may You and we say, “Here I am.”
Shabbat shalom,
