In fact, the very beginning
of the parashah deals with the laws of a Jewish “slave” – a man who had
stolen money and had no money to repay it, so Beis Din sold him to raise money
to pay off the the debt.
This “slave” may not be
given especially menial or degrading tasks to do. And he is entitled to the
same comforts as his master’s family.
Indeed, the gemarah comments
that one who purchases such a “slave” has essentially purchased a master for
himself, because if there is only one pillow – or one steak – it goes to the
slave, since the master cannot have more or better than that which the slave
has.
But the Torah teaches us
more: While he owns this slave, the master must provide for the needs of the
slave’s wife and children.
Part of what happened at
Sinai is that we undertook arvus, guarantorship for one another. We each
have a responsibility for the spiritual well-being of everyone else.
But how can we meet that
responsibility?
There’s a great magnet from
Partners in Torah that reads: “No one cares how much you know until they know
how much you care.”
To meet our obligations, be
must first know and understand how far we must go to take care of one another.
That breeds love and camaraderie. It is only then that we can hope to influence
and inspire them.
May we truly achieve love of
our fellow, and meet our obligations to Hashem and to others.
Gut Shabbos.
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