Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
לא תעשו עול במשפט לא תשא פני דל ... (יט-טו)
MASHAL: R’ Binyamin Mendelson zt”l was the Rav of Moshav Komemiyus, a religious settlement in Eretz Yisroel, beginning in 1951. The moshav (settlement) had a kosher bakery that provided kosher bread to some 5,000 families in the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, it was not profitable, and R’ Mendelson tried to borrow money to keep the bakery afloat until it would get in the black.
Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz z”l, a religious member of the Israeli Knesset, helped R’ Mendelson obtain the loans from gemachim (free-loan funds). At some point, Rav Lorincz realized that it seemed unlikely that the bakery would ever become profitable. He did not see a realistic way that future loans could be repaid. R’ Mendelson, though, very much wanted to keep the bakery open to ensure a steady supply of kosher bread for the Jews of the area.
The two decided to consult with the Brisker Rav, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l. “Kosher bread is very important,” explained the Brisker Rav. “But kosher bread produced using non-kosher money is not considered ‘kosher.’ If you secure a loan knowing that it is unlikely to be repaid, the money is treif! Even if your goal is to perform a mitzvah, it cannot be done in that fashion!”
NIMSHAL: The Torah discusses the proper conduct of judges in a Jewish court. One thing is not to try to engage in helping someone when it is at the expense of true justice, such as finding a wealthy man liable, when he is really innocent, in order that he provide support for a destitute man. Why not? Isn’t it charity? The Torah teaches us the opposite. Even if the rich man has an obligation to give charity to the poor, twisting the law to do a “mitzvah” is unequivocally wrong.