In the portion for this week, there is a significant amount of legislation devoted to protecting the stranger amongst us, the widow, and the orphan. (Exodus 22:20-26) Later Jewish law expanded this legislation to include all who we might consider “marginalized” in our society. This includes taking advantage of those who are poor and needy, embarrassing them, or unduly subjecting them to harsh lending practices or exploiting their labor. As one Orthodox commentator (Rabbi Moshe Brandsdorfer) states, “the Torah commands us to live by standards far beyond the standards of most societies”
My grandmother used to say “shverz zein a yid” (its hard to be a Jew) and usually she was referring to the demands of the commandments. This certainly applies at a time when there is such a disregard for the feelings or well being of anyone but ourselves-we truly do hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Doug