Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on Parashat Behar

B"H

This week's Torah reading actually consists of two Parashat:

Behar + Bechukotai.

Here is a small insight into Parashat Behar from Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (died in 1932):

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld stressed the importance of employers showing fairness towards their workers. The are numerous commandments in the Torah how an employer should behave towards his employee. Paying him on time, for instance.

On the other hand, the Rabbi objected to the hateful anti - capitalists rhetoric of many workers in the socialist movements, which demonized all employers, and called for all power to be invested in the workers. Such attitudes, he said, were likely to damage only the workers themselves in the long run. Rather, each person must recognize his station in life and strive to fulfill his own role with respect towards others who are in different positions. For each individual in society has a unique, important part to contribute toward public welfare.

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Source:

"Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld on the Parasha"

Compiled by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Sonnenfeld,

Artscroll Series