Excerpt Browser

This page displays the full text of excerpts.  When viewing a single excerpt, its “Share,” “Switch Article,” and “Comment” functions are accessible.

DEUTERONOMY — 21:7 eyes

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9), Source Book Keys, COHON
Page(s): 223-4
DEUT1033 The Sifre comments: "Does it occur to anyone that the elders were suspected of shedding blood? With their statement implies is this: he did not come to us and we dismissed him without food; and we have not seen him and neglected to escort him." Failure to help the needy may expose them to starvation. "The Torah," R. Simlai observed, "begins with loving kindness and ends with loving kindness." Sifre, Deut. 210; Sotah 9:6; 14b. See story of Nahum of Gimzo, Taanit 21a. A harsh and hostile world taught the Jewish people to aid one another in distress. Jewish communities considered it to be part of prudence as well as of religious duty to care for their own poor, and to prevent them from becoming burdens to their neighbors. Yoreh Deah 254. Motives of humanity prompted them further to come to the aid of the non-Jewish poor. Philo considers charity a debt due to all men, including strangers, slaves, and even enemies. De Caritate (Philo), 17-18. Josephus writes that Moses taught the following duties towards one's neighbors, without distinction: giving them fire, water and food, showing them the road and burying their dead. Apion II; 29. The Talmud teaches that indigent non-Jews must not be prevented from sharing the gleanings, the forgotten sheaf and the corners of the fields. They were to be supported along with the Jewish needy; the sick were to be visited and their dead given burial, for the sake of peace and goodwill. Git. 61a; H. Matnot Aniyim 7:7.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 30:15 life

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20), Source Book Keys, COHON
Page(s): 157
DEUT1610 Human life, like personality, forms an end in itself and is sacred. Life is an attribute of God, who is visioned as " the source of life" and as "delighting in life." Coming from God, it is man's highest good, which he must cherish as a trust. Life is identified with the good, and death with evil (this verse and Deuteronomy 30:19). Shedding of blood, say the rabbis, defiles the land and causes the Shechinah to depart from Israel. Yoma 85b Preservation of life has recommended itself to the Jew as the supreme duty of man. The laws of Sabbath observance, of fasting on Yom Kippur, of kashrut, etc. are set aside when life is at stake. Even where it is not certain that life can be saved, these laws may be set aside.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

RSS
12345678910
Back To Top