Torah Portion

Richmond 61st

Gene and Claire Richmond marked their 61st wedding anniversary on Dec. 26, 2021. They plan to celebrate this summer, when COVID no longer threatens, with their children, grandchildren and friends.

Shapiro 100th

Feldheim-Harvie

Ethel Shapiro of Farmington Hills turns 100 on May 24, 2022. At the age of 17, she married the “greatest man in the world, Seymour Shapiro.” She was known as “Dear” for 68 years. Together they had four beautiful daughters who married, had children and made her a Nana. Ethel is celebrating with her eight children, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many friends. Her secret to long life is being gorgeous every day and staying glad not mad.

Beverly and Stuart Feldheim of West Bloomfield wish to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kimberly Shindel to Jamie Harvie, son of Alex Harvie and Katherine Fowler of Troon, Scotland.

The pair met in Glasgow, where Kim was attending graduate school.

A September wedding is planned at Oran Mor in Glasgow, Scotland.

SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Exploiting Weaknesses

Imagine this scene: A mother says to her daughter, “Have a good time playing outside; be a good girl, be honest; respect people you meet; by the way, if you see a blind person on the street don’t put something in his way so he trips and falls.”

That last instruction would seem unnecessary after the general instruction to be “good.” Yet, that is exactly what we read in this week’s Torah portion.

The parshah begins with the general introduction: “You shall be holy for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Then we read a rather long list of specific mitzvot, including respect your parents, observe the Shabbat, don’t bear a grudge, love your neighbor as yourself and don’t put a stumbling block before the blind.

How are we to understand the last mitzvah in this list? Wouldn’t we have known not to do something so horrendous without the Torah reminding us?

The rabbis of tradition had an answer to this question. They understood the use of the phrase “stumbling block before the blind” as referring to actions that we might be less careful to avoid; and, thus, the mitzvah becomes a critical part of teaching us to be “holy.” They interpreted “blind” to refer to someone who is, metaphorically speaking, blind in a particular way.

The rabbis understood that if someone has a weakness that they struggle with that is beyond their control and another person takes advantage of that weakness, that person is, in essence, “putting a stum-

bling block before the blind.” If we, for example, offer food or drink to an individual that we know should not have it, or tempt someone to violate what we know to be their values and commitments, we are transgressing the mitzvah. In addition, there is another interpretation, which says the stumbling block reference means Rabbi Robert giving someone advice

Dobrusin that is not appropriate for him or her. How often do

Parshat we find ourselves willing Kedoshim: to offer our ideas to someLeviticus 19:1-20:27; Amos 9:7-15. one else without thinking whether the advice is good for them? How often do we, instead of telling a friend to consult a physician, an attorney or a counselor, decide to dispense “wisdom” based on our experience — experience that might be totally or even subtly different from theirs? In that way, we are, in fact, leading someone astray and perhaps causing them to stumble. Of course, giving advice to a friend isn’t always a bad idea; and, while it is good to be sensitive, it is up to an individual to act on advice, accept or not accept it. Each person must be aware of his or her own weaknesses and not simply blame someone else for tempting them. In commanding us to be holy, the Torah instructs us to take on more responsibility in caring for the well being of others. By being sensitive to others, we take a step closer to the Torah’s ultimate goal. Robert Dobrusin is rabbi emeritus at Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor. This article originally appeared in the JN April 28, 2011. MAY 5 • 2022 | 41