AUGUST 18 • 2022 | 51
A Sign of Compromise
I
n today’s world of red
or blue states, far left
or far right, compro-
mise has become a dirty
word. There is a prevail-
ing sense in discourse
that it must be all or
nothing, black or white,
right or wrong. Nuance,
shades of meaning and
willingness to meet in
the middle, to compro-
mise to create win-win
situations has been lost.
This was not always the case.
The art of compromise was
once a time-honored technique
that was used to build bridges
between opposing viewpoints
and promote collaboration
between opposing sides.
Compromise is a pragmatic
approach that enables people
to get things done. Each
party acknowledges the
other’s needs and point
of view and gives in a lit-
tle to still get a lot, if not
all, of what they want. As
part of our Jewish tradi-
tion, we have a signpost,
a daily reminder of the
importance of seeking
compromise as a way of
ending conflict.
In this week’s Torah
portion of Ekev, we find
the words that are included in
the mezuzah:
Impress My words upon
your very heart: bind them
as a sign on your hand and
let them serve as a symbol on
your forehead and teach them
to your children — reciting
them when you stay at home
and when you are away, when
you lie down and when you get
up; and inscribe them on the
doorposts of your house and
on your gates. (Deuteronomy
11:18-20)
As a way of fulfilling the
commandment contained in
these words “inscribe them on
the doorposts of your house
and on your gates,” the sages
created the concept of a special
box, a mezuzah (which means
doorpost), that would be
attached to Jewish doorposts.
Inside these special boxes are
placed the words from this
week’s parshah along with
the biblical passage found in
Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
When it came to how the
mezuzah should be hung on
our doorposts there was a
major rabbinic disagreement.
Rashi, (1040-1105), the lead-
ing Torah scholar of his time,
declared that the mezuzah
should be hung vertically
so that it would point to the
Almighty in Heaven. Rabbani
Tam, Rashi’s grandson, argued
that standing up was disre-
spectful and that the mezuzah
should be hung horizontally
like the way that the Torah and
Tablets were arranged in the
holy ark in the Temple.
To accommodate these
two opposing viewpoints a
pragmatic compromise was
reached. It was declared that a
mezuzah should be hung nei-
ther vertically nor horizontally,
but on an angle with its top
leaning into the home.
The next time you pass by
a mezuzah, think about this
rabbinic solution to two con-
flicting viewpoints. Sometimes
it is better to create a solution
where everyone benefits, where
each side compromises a bit
in order to maintain peace
and pragmatically get things
done.
Jeffrey Lasday is now senior chief,
External Affairs, Jewish Federation of
Greater Philadelphia.
Jeff Lasday
Parshat Ekev:
Deuteronomy
7:12-11:25;
Isaiah
49:14-5:13.
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S.D.: Owed the IRS $207,214.
With our help, the case was
settled for $7352.
D.D.: Client owed the IRS
$110,203. Our f
rm negotiated an
Offer in Compromise to settle the
debt for $12,226.
L.J.: With our assistance, client’s
IRS debt of $1,014,078 was
reduced to $100,490.
Let our team of Attorneys, CPAs, Tax Consultants and former IRS Revenue Of
cers provide you with
immediate relief from IRS and State tax problems.
Why Choose Levy & Associates to help with your tax problems?
•
22 years of specializing in tax resolution and working with the IRS and
State Taxing Authorities
•
We have helped thousands of clients nationwide to save tens of millions of
dollars each year!
•
Unlike other fi
rms, all work on your account is kept in-house
•
A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
Sincerely,
Lawrence B. Levy, President
Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem?
As featured on:
Need Help with an IRS or State Tax Problem?
Call the experts at
1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389)
• Tax Liens
• Collection Notices
• Penalties
• Unfi
led Tax Returns
• Audits
Call us today to answer your questions
or to schedule a meeting and say
goodbye to those sleepless nights!
1-800-TAX-LEVY (829-5389)
www.levytaxhelp.com
We Listen …. We Care … We Help!
HQ: 28400 Southf
eld Road., Lathrup Village, Michigan 48076
S.D.: Owed the IRS $207,214.
With our help, the case was
settled for $7352.
D.D.: Client owed the IRS
$110,203. Our f
rm negotiated an
Offer in Compromise to settle the
debt for $12,226.
L.J.: With our assistance, client’s
IRS debt of $1,014,078 was
reduced to $100,490.
Let our team of Attorneys, CPAs, Tax Consultants and former IRS Revenue Of
cers provide you with
immediate relief from IRS and State tax problems.
Why Choose Levy & Associates to help with your tax problems?
•
22 years of specializing in tax resolution and working with the IRS and
State Taxing Authorities
•
We have helped thousands of clients nationwide to save tens of millions of
dollars each year!
•
Unlike other fi
rms, all work on your account is kept in-house
•
A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
Sincerely,
Lawrence B. Levy, President
1.800.TAX.LEVY
www.levytaxhelp.com
28400 Southfi
eld Rd, Lathrup Village, MI 48076
AS FEATURED IN
Call us today to answer your questions
or to schedule a meeting and say
goodbye to those sleepless nights!
• Tax Liens
• Collection Notices
• Penalties
• Unfi
led Tax Returns
• Audits
M.F.: Owed the State of Michigan $100,578.
With our help, the case was settled for $100.
R.N.: Owed the IRS $709,000.
Our fi
rm negotiated an Off
er in Compromise
to settle the debt for $1,000.
S.F.: With our assistance, client’s IRS debt
of $207,663 was reduced to $5,837.
Let our team of Attorneys, CPAs, Tax
Consultants and former IRS Revenue
Offi
cers provide you with immediate relief.
Why Choose Levy & Associates to help
with your tax problems?
• 22 years of specializing in tax resolution and working
with the IRS and State Taxing Authorities
• We have helped thousands of clients nationwide to
SAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR!
• A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
We Listen... We Care... We Help!
Results will vary based upon clients fi
nancial condition.
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