Foundational to Jewish living is being attentive to the needy, as the Torah states, “If your brother is waxen poor, and his means fails with you: then you shall uphold him” (Leviticus 25:35).
The phrase “you shall uphold him” is generally understood as preventative. In the words of Rashi, based on the Midrash, “Do not let him sink so that it will be hard for him to recover, but strengthen him the moment his hand fails. To what may this be compared? To the burden on a donkey’s back. While it is still on the donkey, one person can seize it and set it straight. But once it has fallen to the ground, five people cannot lift it up” (Torat Kohanim).
Indeed, according to Maimonides, “You shall uphold him” is the source of the highest of the eight levels of charity. He writes, “The greatest level, higher than all the rest, is to fortify a fellow Jew and give him a gift or loan, form with him a partnership, or find him work until he is strong enough so that he does not need to ask others [for sustenance]” (Gifts to the Poor 10:7).
The preventative approach can be expanded to relate to other aspects of life. Eat well and exercise to prevent a heart attack, which could involve dangerous, life-threatening surgery. Invest prudently to prevent bankruptcy, from which there may be no path to recovery. Solve small disagreements with one’s spouse, children, siblings, parents, and extended family rather than letting them fester and forever rupture the relationship.
As rational as this advice may be, it is sometimes not that simple. Sometimes a person needs to hit rock bottom before seeking help. Sometimes salvation only comes when all seems lost.
Perhaps these models coexist: the latter focuses on the person in need. For that individual, maybe complete failure is the necessary prerequisite to begin anew. The former, however, relates to the person providing assistance. His or her obligation is to step in and “uphold him” – immediately, much before the fall.
Even if the receiver rejects help and needs to hit bottom before turning matters around, “you shall uphold him” still applies, mandating that we all be sensitively present while never overbearing, aiding the beleaguered to slowly stand and climb back up.
Candle lighting:
Behar parsha
May 24th at 7:47 p.m.
