Teaching Team

The God of the Orphan and Widow

By Seth Dralle  | Comments (1) | Posted on August 22, 2008

In this week's portion we read these powerful words:

For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows his love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. (Deut. 10:17-19)

What I was especially struck with this week was the connection between these lofty words extolling God's might (which appear in the first benediction of the Amidah prayer) and his care for the lowly in this world. Though God is awesome, he is perfectly humble and compassionate. In though he is "high and lifted up," his eyes are always upon the poor.

It is well known that the American economy has fallen on hard times. With the mortgage crisis, health care problems, the soaring cost of fuel, food, and medication, it seems that everyone is feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, it is charitable ministries that are feeling the tightest pinch. Not only are donations down across the board, but organizations that offer food and clothing are seeing increasing demand for their services. It puts them in double jeopardy. Less resources, but higher demand.

Yet, in this, Hashem has given us an opportunity for a huge mitzvah. We who seek to live a life of Torah after the Master must rise to meet this challenge. We must increase our giving to these organizations. We need to help, if not in financial support, then we can also volunteer our time.

We often like to emphasize the outward matters of Torah. Shabbat, kashrut, tefillin, modesty. All these things are Torah and we should not diminish them. Yet, for all the focus we place on these matters, are we also being zealous to serve those in need? Though many of us would consider ourselves to be upper to lower middle class, the reality is that when compared to the world's population, we are among the world's wealthiest. And that is even by today's standards. When comparing ourselves to how the majority of people have lived throughout history, we are truly among the privileged few.

As we prepare for our Shabbat rest, may we reflect upon ways that we can tangibly bring God's rest, God's blessing, to those in need of it. May the Messianic Community truly serve as a beckon of light to a world that is in need of repair. As the Body of Messiah, may we be his healing hands to the world around us.

Shabbat Shalom

About the Author: Seth Dralle is the fulfillment and shipping department manager and a research and teaching assistant for FFOZ. He is also a contributor to messiah magazine, the Monthly eRosh and the Torah Club Online Dictionary.

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