Original Post April 30 2013
Nations of the world are rushing to assist Nepal. All of us are in turmoil as we witness the devastation unfolding before our very eyes. There are so many nations attempting to supply aid and emergency personnel that the only major cargo airport is bottlenecked. How frustrating! We can only help by offering Tzedakah, prayers and moral support to all who are suffering and to all who are attempting to assist.
None of us would ever imagine ignoring such a terrible disaster. Extreme tragedy demands help. A famous phrase from this week's Torah reading calls out to us: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor” (Lev.19:18). All of us would immediately nod our heads in agreement when hearing this phrase from Torah! However, the first phrase in this same verse reads as follows: “Do not walk around telling tales about other people.”
These 2 phrases are not even separated by a comma! How powerful! So few of us would restrain ourselves from helping victims of a disaster and yet how many of us restrain ourselves from doing harm by talking about others?
It is very telling that our beloved Torah, which has changed the world by bringing Godly words of humanity into at least 3 major world religions, links “Don’t tell tales” with ”Don’t stand idly by”. Just as we quickly rush to the other side of the globe to help people suffering so must we rush to avoid wounding people in our own neighborhood by talking about them.
May this Shabbat be a time of support for people throughout the entire world, beginning with Nepal and our own neighborhoods.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Steve Silberman
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