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| Fri, 10 May 2024 07:49:50 -0500 — |
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D'var: Parashat Re'eh 5783 Commentary by Michael Goldstein Friday, August 11, 2023 |
| Deuteronomy 11:26 — 16:17 |
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This week’s Torah portion is named Re’eh. It means see or behold and is the first word of the Parashat.
Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. (Deuteronomy 11:26). In it, Moses continues his final sermon to the Israelites. He tells them that if they worship idols, they will be punished. He adds that after they cross the Jordan, they will build a temple where God tells them to. He also explains the laws of kashruth and he details the three pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. I’d like to focus on chapter 15, having to do with poverty. It begins by explaining that every seven years, each Israelite is to release his slaves and, if he has made loans to other Israelites, he is to forgive them. However, From the foreigner you may exact; but what is yours with your brother, your hand shall release. (Deuteronomy 11:26) A few verses later, the Parashat begins to deal with the poor. If there will be among you a needy person, from one of your brothers in one of your cities, in your land the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not close your hand from your needy brother. Rather, you shall open your hand to him, and you shall lend him sufficient for his needs, which he is lacking. Beware, lest there be in your heart an unfaithful thought, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release has approached," and you will begrudge your needy brother and not give him, and he will cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin to you. You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; for because of this thing the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your work and in all your endeavors. For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor one, and to your needy one in your land. (Deuteronomy 11:7-11) The Parashat outlines two methods of alleviating poverty: eliminating debt and freeing slaves in the seventh year. Debt and slavery were how poverty was perpetuated in biblical times, and to some degree, in modern life. Debt continues to be both a vehicle for economic advancement and a potential trap. In our society earning a decent living often means acquiring things beyond our immediate financial reach such as education, transportation, and housing. We routinely borrow to pay for both necessities and luxuries. Sometimes, we have to borrow in order to avoid homelessness, treat illness, or avoid falling into utter poverty. However, without the means to repay loans, debt accumulates and the bill collectors come out of the woodwork. Many stories of poverty these days include debt. “Our medical bills were piling up; we borrowed money so we wouldn’t get evicted; we fell behind on our payments,” and so on. We also find it on the international front. Struggling nations become indebted to powerful ones that can take their natural resources and aggressively sell products to them. The end result is that poor countries are hopelessly in debt to rich ones, and cannot free up money for training and infrastructure. Remission of debt has proven to be a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and enabling both individuals and nations to make a clean start. In ancient times slavery was often linked to debt. People were sold into slavery or sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts. Others chose slavery as an alternative to dire poverty because it promised basic subsistence… food, shelter, and protection. In ancient Israel, debt and slavery were temporary states, not permanent ones. Every seven years, slaves and debtors were entitled to be freed. If one remained a slave for life, giving up individual liberty in favor of protection, it was by choice. The commandment to provide a freed slave with a way to make a living, some food, animals, and basic household items coupled economic independence with personal liberation. The notion of redeeming slaves and setting them free to a life of possibility was unique. This idea of a reprieve from debt and the right to a life free of poverty has not been carried over into modern times. There is no institutional relief for out-of-control debt on either the individual or natio We ought to carefully examine what it would really mean to create freedom from want in our world and end the scourge of modern economic slavery. The systems we’ve so far created to enable overcoming inequality are easily circumvented. The only real way to facilitate liberation from poverty is to combine a just and workable system with generous hearts and willing sacrifice on the part of those who enjoy abundance. Michael Goldstein |
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