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Sit Down. Kiddush With Rabbi Martin Berman.
Topic: "What Is A Rabbi?"
Kadima Youth Group To Hold An Ice Cream Social
Oneg Shabbat
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Shavout Dinner And Torah Study With Rabbi Martin Berman.
Topic: Jew And Gentile: Are Other Religions Paganism?
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Ounce Of Prevention:
A Valuable Adage
RABBI MORTON F. YOLKUT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
I
wentieth century man's
emphasis is on prevention.
The various news media,
radio and television, con-
stantly exhort us to take preven-
tive measures. In every area of
life the refrain is similar. The
medical and dental associations
urge us to schedule annual ex-
aminations while our savings in-
stitutions urge us to save for a
"rainy day" and our post-retire-
ment years. State and local gov-
ernments enact legislation like
compulsory seat belts to prevent
accidents on our streets and high-
ways. In these, as well as in so
many areas of life, the underly-
ing message is that an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of
cure.
While most of us appreciate
this lesson in medicine and busi-
ness, we often fail to apply the
principle to the social and reli-
gious areas of life. There we still
cling to an antiquated curative
approach. First wars are waged
and then endless conferences are
held to reach a peace settlement.
First children are permitted to
develop in a home environment
where they become delinquents,
and then we look for a panacea
to save them. First we neglect to
give our children a quality Jew-
ish education and a home where
Judaism is a way of life, and then
we shudder when our children
forsake our tradition and marry
out of the faith in unprecedented
numbers. Many lives have been
shattered because we have tried
to cure problems when we should
have focused on preventing them.
The same principle applies to
the problem of helping an indi-
vidual who is in economic or fi-
nancial stress. One should not
wait to extend help until the in-
dividual is about to become a wel-
fare recipient, but should do
anything and everything possi-
ble at the first sign of a develop-
ing crisis.
The Torah, in this week's por-
tion of Behar, underscores this
Jewish and moral responsibility.
"When your brother becomes im-
poverished (literally: when he col-
lapses economically) and lases the
ability to support himself,
V'hehezakta bo, you must uphold
him" (Leviticus 25:38). The rab-
bis in the Midrash (quoted by
Rashi) emphasize that this com-
mandment to "uphold" one's
brother when he fails econom-
ically means that we should pre-
vent his total economic downfall.
Morton Yolkut is rabbi of
Congregation B'nai David.
It may be compared they say to
"an excessive load on the back of
a donkey. As long as it is on the
donkey one person can keep it
from falling off; but when it falls
to the ground, not even five peo-
ple are able to pick it up" (Rashi,
Leviticus 25:35). Once a person
becomes impoverished it becomes
almost impossible to pull him out.
Hence, the Torah asks us to pre-
vent this from happening.
Moreover, Maimonides, in his
Code of Jewish Law, lists eight
levels of giving charity. "The high-
est level . . . is one who upholds
an individual reduced to poverty
by giving him a loan., or entering
into partnership with him, or
finding work for him, in order to
strengthen his hand, so that he
will have no need to beg from
Shabbat Behar-
Bechukotai:
Leviticus 25:1-27:34
Jeremiah 16:19-
17:14.
other people" (Maimonides, Mish-
neh Torah, Laws Concerning
Gifts to the Poor, 10:7). Accord-
ing to Jewish tradition, the pre-
vention of poverty is the most
noble form of assistance once can
give. It is the preferred way of
doing tzedakah.
If we would but act in accord
with these sublime Jewish teach-
ings, if we would not wait until
the damage as done but extend
help as soon as needed, and con-
centrate on preventing trouble,
how much suffering and sorrow
humanity could be spared. Let us
apply the teachings of our Torah
and tradition; when the first signs
of trouble appear, Hachzak bo,
strengthen your brother, your-
self, your ideals, while they are
still in your power and you can
still help.
The fact remains that in the
field of human relations as in the
field of medical science, the old
adage still hold strue that an
early prevention is the latter cure.
Shall I shrink from in-
itiating religious changes
that the age demands, mere-
ly because my fathers re-
mained passive? No; I claim
the very changes as my
merit, as a token of my zeal
for the true welfare of the
faith.
Rabbi Morris Joseph