B'Har: keeping yourself in line

Parshat B'Har

It says a number of times in the Parsha (25:17, 25:36, 25:43), regarding various instructions of behavior, "And you should fear your God" - ויראת מאלקיך.

Every time it says that, it is referring to a situation in which it is difficult, or even impossible, to know whether the persons actions were done with good intentions or with self-serving motives. In these situations, the Torah reminds us that Hashem knows all and knows what is in our hearts, so even if other people don't know, Hashem still does, so we should do it for the right reasons.

It is easy to be frumm when everyone is looking at you and watching what you are doing. As a matter of fact, it is a common phenomenon that some people who are very frum, when they go away on vacation are much more lax and do things they would never even consider doing back in their own community. This is because they are comfortable with the idea that nobody is watching them and seeing them in this "less frum environment".

That is really when you need the fear of God - the Yiras Hashem. When you are away from your normal setting, around people who don't know you or care what you do. If you have yiras hashem, you will stick to your ideals even then.

Yiras hashem is what keeps you on the line, even when nobody else knows what you are doing.

B'har: on equal footing

Parshat B'har

In 25:35-36 the Torah says, "וכי ימוך אחיך ...והחזקת בו.. וחי אחיך עמך" - when your brother shall become poor.. and you should support him.. that your brother should live with you. The passuk goes on to talk about not charging interest, etc.

It is not enough to give a little tzedakka. You have to support your fellow Jew who became poor. "Your brother should live with you." You have to support him enough that he can live with you. On equal footing.

Don't make him sell his house and move to a lower class neighborhood. Help him get by and back on his own feet while continuing to be part of the community with respect.

The gemara says that one must support a fellow jew with tzedakka to live at the level he is accustomed to.

Your brother shall live with you. Don't just support him to help him live. Supprot him at the level that he can continue living with you. On equal footing.