Dr Hollisa Alewine – Mishpatim (The Widow of Babylon) Feb 13, 2021

Mishpatim is full of "judgments," each clarifying the over-arching Big Ten commandments. It is a fascinating Torah portion because the reader is challenged with the puzzle of connecting themes. It's not too hard, but it does take some work! In this teaching we cover one of the commandments about caring for the less fortunate such as the Widow and Orphan. There is a familiar adage about "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat today; teach him how to fish and he'll eat every day." In other words, a gift merely strengthens the weakness (unless the person is disabled or too young or old to work). A loan to an able-bodied Israelite holds the obligation to repay, and therefore, the recipient learns money management that will strengthen him in the future. He, too, can then "loan it forward." Here we discuss why Babylon says "I will not sit as a widow."

 

Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.