Devar/5770/Mishpatim
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< Devar | 5770
עברית
אִם-עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה, אֹתוֹ -- כִּי אִם-צָעֹק יִצְעַק אֵלַי, שָׁמֹעַ אֶשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתוֹ. (שמות כב:כא,כב)
English
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or orphan.
If thou afflict them in any wise -- for if they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry. (Ex 22:21,22)
There are many commandments in our portion, both positive and negative. But this particular commandment is unique in the manner in which the Torah expresses itself. What need is there for the triple doubling (in the Hebrew original)?
"If thou afflict them in any wise" -- whether on purpose and intentionally, or inadvertently and through lack of attention. We are liable for punishment for having afflicted the widow or orphan in any way. "If they cry at all unto Me" -- whether they cry out in public or in private. "I will surely hear their cry" -- in any case I will hear them; even the cry of the mute, which cannot be heard by any ear. Because I am the father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows (Psa 68:6).
Therefore the Law states: One may only speak to them kindly, and may only treat them with honor; nor may one hurt them with hard work, nor their hearts with words; and one must treat their finances more carefully than his own. Anyone who derides them, or angers them, or hurts their feelings, or dominates them, or wastes their money -- transgresses a negative commandment. Even more so the one who hits or curses them. This negative commandment, even though one is not whipped for transgressing it, has an explicit punishment in the Torah: "My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword" (Laws of Personality Development 6:15,16).
The Torah is especially demanding regarding them in order to sensitize us to the plight of others. I will remove the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh (Eze 11:19).
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