Για να το διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ εδώ
Based on a insight from Rabbi Nechemia Wilhelm
There was once a king that went hunting in the the forest and got lost. When he realized it, it was too late. Frightened, he heard the voices of robbers who took away everything he had, tied him to a tree and prepared to execute him.
At the last moment, the voice of the forest guard was heard. The robbers fled immediately, and the king’s life was saved. The grateful king invited the forest guard to his palace and asked him what he desired as a reward.
The guard answered that he didn’t need anything. The only thing he wanted what to have the king describe to him how he felt when he was tied to the tree, knowing that he will die in a few seconds.
The king got angry and ordered the guard to be killed for his impudence. At the last minute, before the execution, the king arrived, freed the guard and explained to him: “Now you can understand what I felt. I could not describe it to you in a better way…”
In this week’s Parasha Mishpatim, we learn about various laws and commandments that relate to our everyday life. For example, the commandment to help the poor, either with charity or with a interest-free loan. When the Torah, speaking about this help, says: “the poor with you”, to teach us that when we help our fellow, we need to try to feel what he or she is feeling. Get into his or her shoes. Thus, our help will be completely different.
Later, we read about what happens when someone causes damage to someone else, for instance, he takes out his or her eye. The Torah says “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…”. The Sages explain that this is not to be taken literally, to take out the eye of the offender, but have him pay financial compensation for the value of the eye.
Why does the Torah write in such a confusing way? So many misunderstandings could have been avoided if it was written clearly that the offender has to pay…
The Torah wanted to emphasis that it is not enough to pay financial compensation. We need to truly try to understand what we have done, to identify with the victim.
We all encounter people that need our help, and we want to assist them. If we think a little about how they feel, we will be able to help them in a much better and suitable way.
Thanks to our actions of solidarity and kindness, G-d will surely send us Mashiach now!
Shabbat Shalom,
Hanna
