Mishpatim, Exodus 21:1-24:18, Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, February 13, 2021
What is our responsibility to the weakest among us: immigrants, the poor, and the weak? This is a political debate we have been having for decades, even centuries. But it is also a moral imperative, as we read in this week’s Torah portion, “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me, and My anger shall blaze forth…” (Exodus 22:20-23)
In ancient Israel “stranger, orphan and widow” meant the weakest members of society, those with no one to help or protect them. Commenting on this verse Ibn Ezra wrote, “whoever sees a person oppressing an orphan or a widow and does not help the orphan and the widow, he too is considered as an oppressor. You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. Widows and orphans, like strangers, are in a disadvantaged position relative to other citizens.”
Judaism is very clear here, we are obligated to help the disadvantaged. The stranger is included to remind us that we must help, particularly when the needy are different from us, when they are the other.
In Judaism the poor and the needy are not judged as being morally deficient because of their poverty. Rather, we are judged to be morally deficient if we do not come to their aid.
Our Torah portion continues with the reminder that God (or our conscience) will see how we act and judge us accordingly.
~Rabbi Dean Kertesz
Terumah, Exodus 25:1-27:19, Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, February 20, 2021
February 19, 2021 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
It is a commonplace observation that human beings are social creatures. We seek the company of others. We desire community. We take it for granted. But at times like these when we are forced into a kind of solitary existence, we realize how much community means to us. How much we need it.
This week’s Torah portion, Terumah, begins the chronicle of the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle in which God’s presence dwelt. It begins with these words: “Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him.” (Exodus 25:2) From this we learn that community is built when we each bring our talents and gifts and share them with each other.
Building community is a collective endeavour. This is even more true now, when we can not come together physically, so each of us contributes in new ways to keep our community alive, technical skills, graphics, the willingness to teach others how to get online or on Zoom. The gifts may be different, but the goal is the same.
Our Torah portion also reminds us that when we succeed we create holy space, as we read, “And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:9) That is, when we bring our talents together to create and sustain community, we make a space for holiness, for the divine presence to dwell. Lord knows, we need that holiness, now more than ever.
~Rabbi Dean Kertesz