In this week's parasha, Behar (my bar mitzvah portion!), we find a simple line among the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee:
וְלֹ֤א תוֹנוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־עֲמִית֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
Do not wrong one another, but be in awe from your God; for I, Adonai, am your God. (Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17)
This simple line requires quite a lot from us, especially in times of continued terror and violence, longing for return, shame, and horror. The pressure continues to be high, the emotions raw. And inside of this, we are reminded not to wrong one another.
And while the translation says “do not wrong one another,” the Hebrew resonates on multiple levels: the root yud-nun-hey means “oppress, maltreat, and suppress” and it is often used in situations of power imbalance throughout the Tanakh. Further, it is an interesting sentence structure where more literally, it says “and you all (collectively) shall not oppress – each person toward their associate/relation/fellow.” We are required to understand that there is power and oppression among our closest relationships – inside our closest knit structures, family and community. And, to treat one another well is a collective injunction that each of us are asked to follow.
The collective that relies on each individual is similar to the situation we find ourselves in to ensure a healthy community, not just in how we treat one another. Kadima’s annual event Heart & Chutzpah is an example of this. The event is for the collective good, and relies on each individual. So, if you haven’t gotten your ticket yet, know that it matters that you do. If you simply can’t come, know that it matters that you sponsor the event in some way still. Doing right for community with individual action is to do what each of us can. So, worry not that you alone cannot help us meet our $50,000 goal (though if you can, please do so and help us go beyond!), for it is a collective effort that relies on each of us.
In the meantime, I hope to perhaps see you at Folklife for the many Jewish performances (including Brivele and Shpilkis featuring Kadima members!) or the Freedom from the River to the Sea 25 mile walk this weekend.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
וְלֹ֤א תוֹנוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־עֲמִית֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
Do not wrong one another, but be in awe from your God; for I, Adonai, am your God. (Vayikra/Leviticus 25:17)
This simple line requires quite a lot from us, especially in times of continued terror and violence, longing for return, shame, and horror. The pressure continues to be high, the emotions raw. And inside of this, we are reminded not to wrong one another.
And while the translation says “do not wrong one another,” the Hebrew resonates on multiple levels: the root yud-nun-hey means “oppress, maltreat, and suppress” and it is often used in situations of power imbalance throughout the Tanakh. Further, it is an interesting sentence structure where more literally, it says “and you all (collectively) shall not oppress – each person toward their associate/relation/fellow.” We are required to understand that there is power and oppression among our closest relationships – inside our closest knit structures, family and community. And, to treat one another well is a collective injunction that each of us are asked to follow.
The collective that relies on each individual is similar to the situation we find ourselves in to ensure a healthy community, not just in how we treat one another. Kadima’s annual event Heart & Chutzpah is an example of this. The event is for the collective good, and relies on each individual. So, if you haven’t gotten your ticket yet, know that it matters that you do. If you simply can’t come, know that it matters that you sponsor the event in some way still. Doing right for community with individual action is to do what each of us can. So, worry not that you alone cannot help us meet our $50,000 goal (though if you can, please do so and help us go beyond!), for it is a collective effort that relies on each of us.
In the meantime, I hope to perhaps see you at Folklife for the many Jewish performances (including Brivele and Shpilkis featuring Kadima members!) or the Freedom from the River to the Sea 25 mile walk this weekend.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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