09/08/2022 05:00:00 PM
In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, among the many commandments, we find commandments such as, “If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep gone astray, do not ignore it; you must take it back to your peer.” (Deut. 22:1) And commandments like, “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.” (22:8) There are many others, of course, but these two are favorites of our sages. In both commandments, the unifying idea is that we must not remain indifferent to our neighbors and their needs. If we see something lost, we must get involved. If there is a danger on our property, we must do what we can to ensure safety. We cannot remain indifferent saying, “This or that thing doesn’t affect me.”
We are currently in our annual Food Gatherers fundraiser. Every year as we approach the High Holy Days, our community makes sure we do not remain indifferent to the needs of our neighbors. We have all lived through some very trying years recently, and the difficulty remains, especially for those most in need. Inflation and food costs specifically have made survival in our world even more difficult and complicated. Whether it is $1 or $10,000, we hope that our entire community can contribute to our fundraiser for Food Gatherers.
