Kevin Bemel ·
Do You Know How to Be Charitable? Really?
Parsha [Passage of Scripture] Nugget [Precious Idea] Acharei Mos-Kedoshim – Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Setting goals for achieving my life’s purpose means finding concrete ways to address emotional or spiritual challenges. Improving my marriage is fine in the abstract. But my wife inhabits the physical world. So wishing or thinking about being a better husband doesn’t do her much good. This week’s parsha, Acharei Mos–Kedoshim, deals with practical ways to pursue metaphysical ends:
“. . . and you will love your neighbor like yourself, I am the Lord.” (Vayikra/Leviticus 19:18)
This Sabbath’s parsha is another double reading. Acharei Mos tells about the Yom Kippur service (from which comes the term “scapegoat”), the prohibition against eating blood, forbidden relationships, and the holiness of the Land of Israel.
Kedoshim gives a long list of mitzvahs (ways of creating a relationship with G-d) from religious to ethical: Respecting parents and elders, giving charity to the poor, being honest in business, observing the Sabbath, not dabbling in the occult, not taking revenge, and forbidden relationships.
Physical Expressions of Love → Not What You Think
Leading up to the famous verse quoted above are several ways you can love your neighbor as yourself. You can leave the corners and gleanings of your field or vineyard for the poor. You can refrain from robbing, make sure you pay your employees on time, and not intentionally hurt a handicapped person.
But for most of us are not farmers, criminals, or malicious. So the Torah seems to lack tangible ways to express our love for other people. What is the standard? If you have a nice car do you have to buy one for your neighbor? When you travel to wonderful places must you take your neighbor along? And if you don’t do these things, should you at least feel guilty that you’re better off than your neighbor?
If you want to provide your neighbor with elaborate gifts you may. But you don't need to be so generous. In the physical realm, you ought to help people meet their basic needs, using 10% but no more than 20% of your income to do so. As important, take care of your neighbor's emotional and spiritual needs.
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9 Ways to Build Enduring Relationships
Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg, the Chief Rabbi of Koenigsburg, Germany during the early to mid-1800s (in his Torah commentary HaKsav V’HaKabbalah), gave a list of how you can love your neighbor as yourself:
- Express real, not feigned, affection for others
- Always treat others with respect
- Always seek the best for others
- Be more than empathic, join in other people’s pain
- Greet people with friendliness
- Give people the benefit of the doubt
- Assist others physically
- Be ready to help people with a small loan or gift
- Do not consider yourself better than other people
If you look at this list I suspect it reflects the way you want to be treated by others. The difference between military and civilian life is highlighted by no. 5. We must offer the greeting of the day to anyone senior to us, who then must greet us back. This small gesture, almost always done in a friendly way, makes military life more pleasant. Which of these behaviors can you habituate to demonstrate daily respect for your neighbor?
How else can you love your neighbor as yourself?
You can leave a comment on this question or ask another question below ↓
Every year beginning on Simchas Torah, the cycle of reading the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, ends and begins again. Each Sabbath a portion known as a sedra or parsha is read. Its name comes from the first significant word or two with which this weekly reading begins.
Do you have a question about the Old Testament? Ask it here and I will answer it in a future Parsha Nugget!
