koberstein
Active member
IN THE BIBLE, THE STRANGER, THE ORPHAN, AND THE WIDOW ARE frequently offered
as examples of the weakest, most unprotected people in society. Because of their vulnerability,
the Torah repeatedly delineates the protection and help that must be afforded to them.
It regulates that there must be one standard of justice for both the strangers (non-Jews)
and Jews (Numbers 15:15) see also Leviticus 19:34).
"The stranger, the orphan and the widow" are linked together as naturally in the Torah
as our the "Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe" in the famous American song.
The moral measure of a society, the Torah constantly implies, can be gauged by how
it treats its weakest members.
In the case of widows and orphans, later Jewish law stipulates that financial support
is not enough; they must be given emotional support as well. In an uncharacteristic wordy
ruling *Maimonides writes: "A man ought to be especially heedful of his behavior towards
widows and orphans, for their souls are exceedingly depressed and their spirits low.
'You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan' (Exodus 22:21). How are we to conduct ourselves
toward them? One must not speak to them other than tenderly. One must take greater care of
their property than ones own. He who created the world by His word made a covenant that when
they cry out because of violence, they will be answered, as it is said 'If you do mistreat them, I
will heed their cry as soon as they cry out to Me' (Exodus 22:22)
as examples of the weakest, most unprotected people in society. Because of their vulnerability,
the Torah repeatedly delineates the protection and help that must be afforded to them.
It regulates that there must be one standard of justice for both the strangers (non-Jews)
and Jews (Numbers 15:15) see also Leviticus 19:34).
"The stranger, the orphan and the widow" are linked together as naturally in the Torah
as our the "Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe" in the famous American song.
The moral measure of a society, the Torah constantly implies, can be gauged by how
it treats its weakest members.
In the case of widows and orphans, later Jewish law stipulates that financial support
is not enough; they must be given emotional support as well. In an uncharacteristic wordy
ruling *Maimonides writes: "A man ought to be especially heedful of his behavior towards
widows and orphans, for their souls are exceedingly depressed and their spirits low.
'You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan' (Exodus 22:21). How are we to conduct ourselves
toward them? One must not speak to them other than tenderly. One must take greater care of
their property than ones own. He who created the world by His word made a covenant that when
they cry out because of violence, they will be answered, as it is said 'If you do mistreat them, I
will heed their cry as soon as they cry out to Me' (Exodus 22:22)
