Quick Thoughts on the Parsha

In the third aliyah of Parshat Behar Bechukotai, we learn a profound mitzvah ben adam lechaveiro, between people. Hashem tells us, וְכִֽי־יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָ֥טָה יָד֖וֹ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּ בּ֔וֹ גֵּ֧ר וְתוֹשָׁ֛ב וָחַ֖י עִמָּֽךְ, “If your brother becomes destitute and his hand falters beside you, you shall support him [whether] a convert or a resident, so that he can live with you” (Vayikra 25:35). Rashi tells us that this mitzvah applies to a very specific stage in a person’s struggle: at the tipping point where things haven’t gotten worse yet, but could if no aid is provided. Rashi on our pasuk teaches, אל תניחהו שירד ויפול ויהיה קשה להקימו, אלא חזקהו משעת מוטת היד, “Do not allow him to fall down and collapse, in which case it would be difficult to pick him up again”. He compares this to a large load that is being carried on a donkey. While the load is on the donkey, one person can stand by and hold it up, but once it falls off, even several people cannot carry the load. While Chazal generally understand this tipping point to be a monetary one in which a person needs material help, I believe we can also apply this lesson to those carrying emotional, psychological, and spiritual loads that are either threatening to fall off of the donkey or becoming too heavy to bear alone. In our verse, we are called by God not only to be aware of those who are on the brink of chaos and who need our support but to also actually step in and be a source of strength and help for him or her. Today, practice noticing those around you who may be in need of your support-- those who are standing on the invisible tipping point. If you yourself are in that fragile place, remind yourself that God commands others to be there for you so you can receive the helping hand you need. Be willing to take that hand. And if you are caring for someone in that often unseen place of need, take comfort in knowing that God values the support you are providing so much so that He made it a Biblical command.

-- Rabbanit Alissa