Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Mitzvah #77 - Being nasty to a widow or orphan

Besides for the prohibition of being nasty to all Jews, there's an added prohibition of being nasty to widows or orphans.

Even wealthy and famous widows need to be treated with extra care; one must speak extra kindly to them and be careful about squandering their money.

The Torah warns us that one who strikes or is nasty to a widow or orphan will invoke Hashem's anger "and I will kill you by the sword and your wives will be widows and your children orphans". (Shmot 22:23)

An orphan - even one who lost only one parent - is considered an orphan until they grow up and become financially independent.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere.

Verse: "and don't be nasty to the the widow and orphan" (Shmot 22:21)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 51

- Danny
Wednesday, 5 Shvat 5770

No comments:

Post a Comment