- This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by .
-
Posts
-
“HaKail HaGodal ViHanorah Asher lo Yisa Fanim ViLo Yikach Shochad. Oiseh Mishpat Yosoim ViAlmanah ViOhaiv Ger Losais Lohem Lechem ViSimlah; Hashem who does not show favor and does not take bribes. Who carries out judgment to orphans and widows and loves the convert to give him bread and garments.” (10:17)
The Ksav Sofer says that this pasuk is a warning to people who think that just because they are fine people “Bain Adam LaChavero” – they treat others very well, this is sufficient. They don’t need to be a good Jew “Bain Adam LaMokom” – their good deeds to their brethren will wipe away their sins to Hashem. The pasuk therefore says, “Asher lo Yisa Fanim ViLo Yikach Shochad” – Hashem will not take as a bribe the fact that you are, “Oiseh Mishpat Yosoim ViAlmanah ViOhaiv Ger Losais Lohem Lechem ViSimlah” – you take care of the orphans, widows and converts. Just because you are a good Jew to others, does not relinquish you of the obligation to be a good Jew to the Ribono Shel Olam, too!
Yes, that is what the pasuk says. There is a whole Torah out there. You have to do both. Isn’t that kind of basic?
WIY- This may be relavent to some people here. But theres another thing people need to know. You can do every mitzvah in the torah and be machmir on every little stringency, but if you lack the basics of bain adam lchavairo, your no better then someone whose just “a nice guy” and doesnt keep all the mitzvos
Kiddushin- one who abides by “bein odom limakom” alone is a tzaddik ra. One who abides by only bein odom lichaveiro is a rasha tov.
” There is a whole Torah out there. You have to do both. Isn’t that kind of basic?”
You would think, wouldn’t you.
far east:
+1. Anybody who only keeps the part of the Torah that strikes their fancy is clearly not doing even that for the right reason (’cause Hashem said so).
Understanding the words of the Ksav Sofer requires a specific historical context. He would never have needed to state what every child knows; that all the mitzvos of the Torah are obligatory, both bein adam lamakom and bein adam l’chaveiro.
The Ksav Sofer succeeded his father as Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in Pressburg. Hence, his fight against the Reform was foremost in his mind, as it was with his father. This vort on the pasuk relates to the movement to abandon bein adam lamakom and concentrate only on bein adam l’chaveiro. It was not a chiddush, rather it was a lumdishe rebuttal.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.