CHOCHMAS NASHIM: MISHPATIM:
THEY HAVE MY EAR
By: Suri Davis
In this week’s torah portion, Mishpatim/Laws, there are a panoply of interesting laws between man and his fellow man, and the value of people and property. Among them are the laws of orphans and widows, followed by the law of lending money to a fellow Jew.
Exodus 22:21: You shall not oppress a widow or orphan. If you do oppress him beware for if he cries out to Me, I will hear his cry and My anger will be kndled and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows and your children orphans.” In society, orphans and widows are the forgotten souls. I meet with so many widows, who tell me that they are left alone for Shabbos and yom tov meals. Left lonely and without friendship and comfort and monetary support.
So too, the poor. There are those who ask for charity, and others who ask for loans. Those who ask for charity, one might say they have no hope of having money to repay the giver. Maybe they are pessimistic, or maybe they don’t want to give hope that they will repay, when they are not certain they will be able to repay. Perhaps they are more honest than those who ask for loans with hopes or promises of repayment.
The laws are clear that a Jew cannot charge interest on a loan. There is an understanding that lending those in need is a mitzvah, a good deed, an act of kindness for a fellow Jew. Built in to the equation from the outset is the conept of not profiteering from another’s poverty or misfortune. Lending is one of the highest levels of charity, in that it shows that you believe that the borrower will turn around his fortunes and trust he will repay the loan. The poor in a community is a test and opportunity for the community. Will those who have more provide with those who have less, so all can live in comfort. G-d tells us, Exodus 22:24: When you lend money to My people, the poor person who is with you, do not behave towards him as a forcible lender. Do not place interest payments on him…If he cries out to Me, I will listen because I am compassionate.”
We bless the new month of Adar this Shabbos, and with that Purim is two weeks away (and, gulp, Passover is six weeks away) and the mercy of the orphan and poor is invoked by the central character of Purim, Esther.
Esther is taken by force to the palace of Achashverosh, and chosen as queen. Haman, the wicked, convinces the king to permit him to kill Jews throughout is kingdom. Mordechai, Esther’s relative, urges her to go to the king to beg mercy on behalf of the Jews. She is afraid for her life to approach the king, and on the way, she says her own prayer:
“O Lord, the God of Israel, who has reigned from days of yore and created the universe, help, please, Your handmaiden who has remained an orphan without father and mother, and who is compared to a pauper who begs from door to door. Verily, I seek Your mercy from window to window in the house of Ahasuerus. And You, O Lord, bring success to this, Your poor handmaiden. Save the flock of Your pasture from these foes who have arisen against us, for nothing prevents You from winning a victory by many or by few. You, O Father of orphans, stand at the right hand of this orphan, who trusts in Your compassion. May this man have mercy on me, for I fear him. Abase him before me, for You abase the proud” (Esth. Rabbah 8:7)
She reminds G-d that she is an orphan, and compares herself to a pauper, those two unique members of the population (together with those who convert to Judaism) who have a special place in G-d’s heart, and who receive His special governance and protection. The danger so great to her own life, and those of her community and kingdom.
Let’s put on this prism of view. One of the mitzvoth of Purim is to give to the poor. The Gural JCC of the Five Towns has a year-round pantry, Tomchei Shabbos has shabbat packages for the poor, and this year I am adding another charity to my list for I was personally assisted by them this year, Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society, who help those with cancer pay their medical bills and advocate for them in so many ways, and with warmth and dignity.
Gutten chodesh.
Shabbat shalom.
-Suri