spiritu al i t
>> torah portion
Spring is Here!
And we have the
accessories for you.
•
•
•
•
•
It's A Sin To Exploit
Others' Weaknesses
Parshat Kedoshim: Leviticus 19:1-20:27;
Amos 9:7-15.
I
magine this scene: a mother says
to her daughter, "Have a good
time playing outside, be a good
girl, be honest, respect the people
you meet and, by the
way, if you see a blind
person on the street,
don't put something in
his way so that he trips
and falls."
That last instruction
would seem unnecessary
after the general instruc-
tions to "be good."
And yet, that is exactly
what we read in this
week's Torah portion of
Kedoshim.
The parshah begins with the
general introduction: "You shall be
holy for I, the Lord your God, am
holy" And then we read a rather long
list of specific mitzvot, including:
respect your parents, observe the
Shabbat, don't bear
a grudge, love your
neighbor as yourself
and don't put a stum-
bling block before the
blind.
How are we to
understand the last
mitzvah in this long
list? Wouldn't we
have known not to
do something so hor-
rendous without the
Torah reminding us?
The rabbis of the tradition had
an answer for this question. They
understood the use of the phrase
"stumbling block before the blind"
as referring to actions that we might
be less careful to avoid; and thus,
the mitzvah becomes a critical part
of teaching us to be "holy" They
interpreted "blind" to refer to some-
one who is, metaphorically speak-
ing, blind in a particular way.
The rabbis understood that if
someone has a weakness that they
struggle with or that is beyond their
control and another person takes
advantage of that weakness, that
person is, in essence, "putting a
stumbling block before the blind." If
we, for example, offer food or drink
to an individual that we know they
shouldn't have, or tempt someone
to violate what we know to be their
values and commitments, we are
transgressing this mitzvah.
In addition, there is another inter-
pretation which says that "putting
a stumbling block before
the blind" means giving
someone advice that is
not appropriate for him or
her. How often do we find
ourselves willing to offer
our ideas to someone else
without stopping to think
whether the advice good
for them? How often do we,
instead of telling a friend
to consult a physician, an
attorney or a counselor,
decide to dispense wisdom
based on our experience — an
experience that might be totally or
subtly different from theirs? In that
way we are, in fact, leading someone
astray and might cause them to
stumble.
Of course, giving
advice to a friend isn't
always a bad idea;
and, while it is good
to be sensitive, it is up
to an individual to act
on advice or to accept
or not accept what
we might offer them.
Each person must be
aware of his or her
own weaknesses and
can't simply blame
someone else for tempting them.
But, in commanding us to be holy,
the Torah instructs us to take on
more responsibility in caring for the
well being of others. By being sensi-
tive to others, we take a step closer
to the Torah's ultimate goal. I I
Do not tempt
another to
violate their
values or
commitments.
Robert Dobrusin is rabbi of Beth Israel
A Boutique in a Mall
C e.CtSSORIfS
27238 Novi Road 248-349-4621
t1
Twelve Oaks Mall - Novi
(on main floor right next to Macy's)
slirtsabbs
0014
FOR
i
Handbags
Jewelry
Hats
Shoes
Clothing
BookiNgs FO R
ALL occAsioNs
MORE iNfORMATiON CAR
1-888,712-9655
OR .VISIT LSTUbbS.COM
(The Stubbs Girt...Sister and Niecss of the Late Mr. Levi dubbs of the Legendary F9ur Tops)
, 1
wri 0 Classicals 0 Ft4,-
:1---
\ ‘
Jazi 0 Blues 0 Positive Motivation--
da pet*
FORMERLY LOCATED ON
WOODWARD IN ROYAL OAK`
DINE IN OR CARRY OUT
If You Want The Best, Give Us A Test
al e ■ icr illB
1101STED CMOS
BAlt-S4
SEAFOOD
by
MILES
AMR :."
AMIF,111•1,11=,,i,il ■ B,./Mt73•1•1,WIMIV
( LUNCH SPECIAL FOR TWO
su lks BROASTE,D OR
BAR-11.41
„4110•V;11=,,,AMM,111•111 - 1111111 '
I
DINNER SPECIAL
Algiik e irear ,0 1/2 OFF
C all ( 2 4 8 ) 4 8 8 - 5 5 5 5
SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE:
Broasted Chicken • Bar-B-Q Ribs • Seafood
With Our Own Special Sauce
N u
(IlAUVI-41PM) DINE-IN ONLY EXPIRES 05/06/13
SECOND
DINNER
I
WITH PURCHASE OF
FULL DINNER
(EQUAL OF LESSER VALUE) II.
DINE-IN ONLY
EXPIRES RS/06111
27847 Orchard Lake Road
at 12 Mile (NW corner)
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Open 7 Days at 11 am
Send your college student
news from home!
College kids love news from home
the JN will help keep them in touch
with everything that is happening
while they are away!
Congregation in Ann Arbor.
Conversations
Can you think of examples in
your own life when you have
been involved in situations of
the kind described above? How
might you or someone else have
acted differently to reflect these
interpretations of the mitzvah
of not putting a stumbling block
before the blind?
Call us today and
we'll take care of the rest
800.875.6621
SPECIAL COLLEGE PRICING
$20 per year
10 months • In-state only • Call for out of state special rates
JN
Visit theJEW1SHNEWS.com
28 y'2011
35