Our Responsibility to Respond to Those in Our Midst Who Need Help

Leviticus 25:35- 38 “ And if your brother becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, you shall support him (so that) he (is able to) subsist (financially among you, (even if he is ) a proselyte or a resident.  Do not take from him interest of any kind and you shall be afraid of your G-d.  Instead, let your brother be able to subsist with you.  You must not give him your money on interest, nor give him your food (so as to receive) accrued gain.  I am the Eternal, your G-d, who took you out of the Land of Mitzrayim to give you the land of Canaan, in order (that I may) be your 

G-d.

This paragraph is important because it basically sets forth the idea we are to take care of those who are close to us.  If one of our kinsman becomes impoverished, our responsibility is to help them maintain their dignity and “emerge from their impoverished state.” (Neil Gillman ‘ Traces of G-d)  We are not to profit from the loss our kinsman is suffering.

The situation described in this passage is one in which an individual was not always poor. Perhaps they became ill and couldn’t work any longer, perhaps they got cheated or robbed, perhaps they made a decision that caused them to lose their wealth.  No matter what the reason, we are told to provide the help to allow them to live.  We have a moral responsibility to offer a hand during this kind of an emergency.

Some individuals will find that this attitude of the Torah feels perfectly normal.  How could I not let a family member of mine have enough food or basic necessities to be able to live with a modicum of dignity?  Others will feel that they worked hard for their own current status in life and they prefer to support more general causes like the environment or curing illnesses which will help heal the world rather than giving money to someone in their family or community who is down and out.  The concept of “brother” achicha, reminds us that we are to help those in our midst first.

Of course, today, we have a tendency to have individuals setting up their own go fund me pages that ask for financial help.  Then people have the opportunity to help provide funds to those individuals by supporting their special needs as requested.  It’s interesting that the Torah does not address the idea of the individual who is facing ruin having to approach us for help.  We are to have open eyes which notice the misfortunes of those in our midst.  We are to respond with compassion not because they ask us for help.  It is also interesting to note that when the Torah tells us how we are to respond, it addresses us in the singular form.  If the idea of supporting the poor were to be given in the plural form, then we might assume that someone else might step forward to help out the individual who was suffering and we would be off the hook.  Since this obligation is given in the singular form, each of us is to understand that we are not exempt from the responsibility of noticing and responding.

The Torah does not set up a system where the governing body provides financial assistance to those who are hurting.  Does the idea that there are government subsidies available to help those needing food, shelter, medical care, etc. alleviate us of our personal responsibilities to respond to those in need?  What do you think of Go Fund Me pages?  Do they help us be more responsive to others’ needs or do they keep us from seeing needs that are not publicized?