Thursday, March 6, 2014
Parshas Vayikra: We are Responsible for one Antoher
10:21 PM | 
Posted by
Rabbi Chaim Coffman |
"Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When a man among you brings an offering to Hashem, from animals, from the cattle or from the flock shall you bring your offering" (Leviticus 1:2)
Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita in Ta'am V'Da'as brings in the gemara Yevamos 61a that a Jew is called 'adam' (a man). Why should this be so? When a person is sick in one part of their body, the entire body suffers because of it. The Jewish people although scattered over the world, when one is in trouble or suffering the entire Jewish nation share in that suffering!
If a Jew, G-d forbid is taken captive or is in trouble, there is nothing that the Jewish people won't do to try and help. We have seen over and over again throughout history with Jews that are sick or in trouble how other Jews who don't even know the person will do what they can to try and help.
We see it unfortunately when one Jew doesn't do what they are supposed to do and stray far away from Torah, they are preyed upon by the other nations. As we get closer to the holiday of Purim we see this in a glaring light.
Mordechai was the only one that refused to bow to Haman. In Shushan at the time there was this bow to Haman cult which Mordechai refused to be a part of. Haman had wealth, prestige and power and could easily have overlooked what this Jew did. Not only did Haman not look the other way, but he was bent on revenge not only against Mordechai but against the entire Jewish nation.
How many times have their been scandals that occurred to Jewish nation which did not get the ire of the other nations against them? One individual, one act but the entire nation gets blamed for it. This is what it means that a Jew is called 'adam'.
Each Jew is responsible for their brother even if he doesn't act like it. We are all one nation and when one suffers, the entire nation suffers. A person cannot turn away when their brother is in trouble, that is called an act of cruelty.
We have to look out for others and look at our nation as one unit and not as splintering groups. When we do that and have genuine love one for another, we are that much closer to bringing Moshiach speedily in our days.
Shabbat Shalom
Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita in Ta'am V'Da'as brings in the gemara Yevamos 61a that a Jew is called 'adam' (a man). Why should this be so? When a person is sick in one part of their body, the entire body suffers because of it. The Jewish people although scattered over the world, when one is in trouble or suffering the entire Jewish nation share in that suffering!
If a Jew, G-d forbid is taken captive or is in trouble, there is nothing that the Jewish people won't do to try and help. We have seen over and over again throughout history with Jews that are sick or in trouble how other Jews who don't even know the person will do what they can to try and help.
We see it unfortunately when one Jew doesn't do what they are supposed to do and stray far away from Torah, they are preyed upon by the other nations. As we get closer to the holiday of Purim we see this in a glaring light.
Mordechai was the only one that refused to bow to Haman. In Shushan at the time there was this bow to Haman cult which Mordechai refused to be a part of. Haman had wealth, prestige and power and could easily have overlooked what this Jew did. Not only did Haman not look the other way, but he was bent on revenge not only against Mordechai but against the entire Jewish nation.
How many times have their been scandals that occurred to Jewish nation which did not get the ire of the other nations against them? One individual, one act but the entire nation gets blamed for it. This is what it means that a Jew is called 'adam'.
Each Jew is responsible for their brother even if he doesn't act like it. We are all one nation and when one suffers, the entire nation suffers. A person cannot turn away when their brother is in trouble, that is called an act of cruelty.
We have to look out for others and look at our nation as one unit and not as splintering groups. When we do that and have genuine love one for another, we are that much closer to bringing Moshiach speedily in our days.
Shabbat Shalom
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