BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

The Talmudic text we study here grapples with the meaning of the following three verses. The first verse appears in the Mishnah and the other two verses appear the Gemara. Before you start to read the Mishnah, take a look at these three verses and ponder what new idea each one gives you. Exodus 22:20 You shall not aggrieve a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt Leviticus 25:14 When you sell property to your neighbor, or buy any from your neighbor, you shall not aggrieve one another Leviticus 25:17 Do not aggrieve one another, but fear your God; for I am the Lord your God Now witness how the Talmud through its close reading learns different things from each of these verses. Babylonian Talmud Bava Metziya 58b-59a Mishnah: Just as [it is illicit] to aggrieve someone in business, it is also [illicit to] aggrieve someone with words. One should not say, "How much does this item cost" if he does not mean to purchase it. If a person had once led a sinf...

By Tali Loewenthal Kindness is often presented as a central virtue of the Jewish people. Abraham, the hero of our parshah, together with his wife Sarah, is a paradigm of kindness. One sees their hospitality to wayfarers at the beginning of the parshah, and later G-d says that He loves Abraham because "he will instruct his household after him to keep the way of G-d, doing charity and justice" (Genesis 18:19). "Charity and justice" signify acts of kindness, and the Talmud cites this verse when it declares that there are three distinguishing features of the Jewish people, the descendants of Abraham: They are 1) modest, 2) merciful, and they 3) do acts of kindness. "Anyone who has these qualities," the Talmud goes on to say, "is fit to join the Jewish people." There are different opinions among the Sages as to whether these qualities are natural to the Jewish people or are special "gifts" from G-d. It is also clear that they are ideals t...

Let Them Talk Rabbi Mark Dratch JSafe: The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse Free Environment “You are not allowed to say negative things,” they are told. “There’s no proof!” The prohibition of Lashon Hara (slander, gossip, tale-bearing) is often used as a tool to silence abuse victims and their advocates from speaking out against abusers. “There are n o witnesses.” “You can’t make this public.” “Keep the secret! Remain silent!” And so women, girls, boys, and men are silenced and are often unable to get the help that they need or appeal for the support that they deserve. By invoking lashon hara improperly, the community to which they turn not only revictimizes them, but enables their abusers to continue abusing them and, potentially, others as well. These attitudes are articulated by many: rabbis, friends, neighbors. They find expression in many places, including the following rabbinic legal responsum. The rabbi is asked whether one should report to the legal authorities a father ...

YOU'RE NOT USELESS I have to remind myself all the time that I have a purpose here in this world. Though sometimes it seems I am just a support system for my children, and that should be enough for me. In a way it is. Being a mother and having wonderful children who love me and trust me unconditionally has been a true miracle. I would be lying, though to say it has been easy. I often get very angry that my children will never know me before - before I became disabled. They will never know the 'powerhouse' that their mother used to be. When I was finally diagnosed after 5 months of being shuffled and tested by most every hospital in New York City - I had to tell my parents, of blessed memory. The first thing one of them said was "now you're useless!" She had a mental illness I realize, but hearing her tell my then-husband to leave me because I was "no longer useful to" him was hurtful. My career and my life changed almost overnight and the de...

EASY DAVEN - HELPING OTHER JEWS At first I wasn't sure how I felt about this, when I came across this site. I pondered for a day or so and decided - its a good thing. Any prayer or positive thought is good energy in a world that has so little. I would be a hypocrite, also, if I put this down. I spend a lot of time on the net - mostly because I can't get out often and I am having a serious flare for weeks now of barely being able to walk most days. Getting from my bed to the computer (where I can't sit up for too long) to the couch is excruciating but I force myself. My kids have become my legs in the house - running up and down stairs for me. I have a small window of energy every day and I use that to make dinner, straighten the children's rooms and get them ready for bed and the next day. Yesterday I was in Manhattan all day. Today I am paying for it. My children are old enough and tell me they are "tweens now, mom" and "can do it" themselve...