Regarding the mitzvah of returning lost objects, we find, ?If you come across your enemy?s ox or donkey going astray, bring it back to him.? (Exodus 23:4), and in our own parashah, ?If you see your brother?s ox or sheep going astray, you must not ignore them. You must return them to your brother?. You must do the same to a donkey, an article of clothing, or anything else that your brother loses and you find. You must not ignore it.? (Deuteronomy 22:1,3) Rashi comments, ??You must not ignore it? - averting your gaze as though you do not see it.?
Likewise, regarding the mitzvah of removing a load from an animal struggling beneath it, the Torah instructs us, ?If you see the donkey of someone you hate lying under its load? you must make every effort to help him unload it.? (Exodus 23:5) As for the mitzvah of helping to pick up the load of a fallen beast, we find, ?If you see your brother?s donkey or ox fallen under its load on the road, you must not ignore it. You must help him pick up the load.? (Deuteronomy 22:4) There is a prohibition against closing one?s eyes and making it seem as though one has not noticed their plight. When animals go astray, it is a mitzvah to return them to their owner, even if the owner is your enemy. When animals struggle or fall under their load, it is a mitzvah to assist them.
If we are commanded to relate this way to beasts gone astray, all the more so are we commanded to relate this way to people who have gone astray on the path of life, people who can cannot find themselves or the proper path. And just as it is a mitzvah to return a lost object to its owners, so is it a mitzvah to return our Jewish sons who have strayed back to themselves and to their Father in Heaven.
Moreover, just as we are commanded to help the ox that is struggling or falling beneath its burden, all the more so we are commanded to help those individuals who are struggling under the burden of life, facing psychological, spiritual and material distress.
Today, we are in a period of economic, spiritual and social crisis, from which, with G-d?s help, we will emerge. Until then, however, we are commanded to aid those who are straying from the path of life, those who are losing their way, and those people and families struggling beneath a heavy financial strain and other forms of distress. If each individual offers help and encouragement to his fellow man, we will persevere and continue lovingly together to march along the upward path to the complete redemption.
Likewise, regarding the mitzvah of removing a load from an animal struggling beneath it, the Torah instructs us, ?If you see the donkey of someone you hate lying under its load? you must make every effort to help him unload it.? (Exodus 23:5) As for the mitzvah of helping to pick up the load of a fallen beast, we find, ?If you see your brother?s donkey or ox fallen under its load on the road, you must not ignore it. You must help him pick up the load.? (Deuteronomy 22:4) There is a prohibition against closing one?s eyes and making it seem as though one has not noticed their plight. When animals go astray, it is a mitzvah to return them to their owner, even if the owner is your enemy. When animals struggle or fall under their load, it is a mitzvah to assist them.
If we are commanded to relate this way to beasts gone astray, all the more so are we commanded to relate this way to people who have gone astray on the path of life, people who can cannot find themselves or the proper path. And just as it is a mitzvah to return a lost object to its owners, so is it a mitzvah to return our Jewish sons who have strayed back to themselves and to their Father in Heaven.
Moreover, just as we are commanded to help the ox that is struggling or falling beneath its burden, all the more so we are commanded to help those individuals who are struggling under the burden of life, facing psychological, spiritual and material distress.
Today, we are in a period of economic, spiritual and social crisis, from which, with G-d?s help, we will emerge. Until then, however, we are commanded to aid those who are straying from the path of life, those who are losing their way, and those people and families struggling beneath a heavy financial strain and other forms of distress. If each individual offers help and encouragement to his fellow man, we will persevere and continue lovingly together to march along the upward path to the complete redemption.