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44

August 23 • 2018

Preserving Dignity

H

uman dignity has always
been a central concern of the
Torah and the Jewish tradi-

Parshat Ki Tetze:
Deuteronomy 21:10-
25:19; Isaiah 54:1-10

tion.
The Torah portion this week gives
us several examples of protections
that were provided for people who
were at a disadvantage in ancient
societies such as the poor, the
the woman’s courtyard along with
resident alien, widows, orphans and
two people to serve as witnesses.
others.
The woman came out, found
Specifically, in chapter
the oil, and in public uncov-
24 of Deuteronomy, we read
ered her head and put the oil
that when a person wants
on her head [to anoint her
to collect on a loan from
hair]. On the basis of this,
another that he may not
the man asked Rabbi Akiva
enter a house to seize the
to reverse his ruling, but
pledge; if you are holding
Rabbi Akiva refused to do so
his/her pledge you must
saying, “You have not said
return it in a timely man-
anything to convince me. If a
Rabbi
Robert
ner. You are not allowed to
person
wounds himself, even
Gamer
abuse a needy or destitute
though he is not allowed to
laborer. We should not sub-
do so, he is exempt; if oth-
vert the rights of the widow,
ers wounded him, they are
the orphan or the stranger
liable.”
in our midst. The Torah
Rabbi Akiva understood the
understands that how we treat those
who are at a disadvantage compared importance, the intrinsic value of
to the rest of society matters greatly. every human being; he understood,
as Rabbi Heschel said, “that things
This idea is epitomized by Rabbi
not only are what they are but also
Abraham Joshua Heschel, who said,
“Awe is an intuition for the dignity of stand, however remotely, for some-
thing supreme”.
all things, a realization that things
This message is equally relevant
not only are what they are but also
in our society. All too often we hear
stand, however remotely, for some-
in the arena of public debate com-
thing supreme.”
ments that denigrate or marginalize
The ideas expressed by the Torah
minorities, the poor and others who
and by Rabbi Heschel were incor-
are at a disadvantage in our society.
porated into the lives of some of
These comments go against the very
our greatest leaders. The Mishnah
essence of the Jewish tradition and
(Bava Kamma) tells us the follow-
should not be given currency.
ing story about a dispute before the
We should and can have vigor-
great Rabbi Akiva. It concerns the
ous
debates about how to address
incident when a man uncovered
the
needs
of our society while still
a woman’s head in public, which
remembering
that those we disagree
was considered a way of shaming
with, those who are not like us, and
a woman at that time. The woman
brought the case before Rabbi Akiva, those affected by the legislation
and policies we debate, stand, as
who ruled the man should pay the
Rabbi Heschel said, “for something
woman 400 zuzim, a significant
supreme. •
sum. The offender asked for an
opportunity to prove his innocence
in the case and proceeded to place a Rabbi Robert Gamer is the rabbi at
Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park.
broken jug of oil at the entrance to