For the week of May 24, 2024

In four verses the Torah gives us a concept of the ideal economy and our rights and responsibilities within it. In 1944 Pres. Roosevelt outlined his idea of the “welfare state,'” in which he proposed that “true economic freedom cannot exist without economic security. (this included)… the right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and a decent home for every family.” That was a profound proposal during the war years, especially after the ravages of the great Depression.

The Torah agrees that the economic situation of an individual cannot be treated as an isolated island within the totality of a society. So if your brother loses the ability to support himself (his family) the Torah tells us, “we must hold onto him.” Our fate and our economy is intertwined with his situation.

The more profound reason is that we are all together in the same economic boat, responsible for one another,  because “God brought us out of Egypt to give you the land.” (verse 38) All that we own does not belong to us, it ultimately is a gift from the divine. So we are enjoined to “let your brother live alongside of you,” i.e. enable that\person/s to thrive as you are thriving. The Sages in the Sifra(commentary book on Leviticus) note that to “uphold” one’s brother/sister means to not allow them to fall into poverty!  Once a person falls into the poverty cycle it becomes very difficult to pull them out of that condition. So our Torah reading for this Shabbat emphasizes the demands on the community, and our obligations to help our neighbors, our brothers!

Join us for a wonderful Torah discussion this Shabbat morning at 9:30.