May 19, 2021 · 00:08:04
The Torah requires extra sensitivity to the orphan and widow and the punishment is explicit in the Torah: "And My wrath shall burn, and I shall kill you by the sword, and your wives will be widows, and your children, orphans." This prohibition includes any downtrodden person as well and requires us not to cause them even a minute amount of pain. There was a story of a widow that couldn't afford rent and in return the landlord removed the roof of her house. The Chofetz Chaim was surprised nothing happened to him until a few years later a crazed dog came and bit the owner causing him to have a terrible death. Just like we have a response of feeling infuriated when we see family in a vulnerable situation being taken advantage of, so too we should feel that way about every Jew since they are our family as well. The Rambam calls it disgraceful to focus selfishly on our own enjoyment of Yom Tov rather than helping feed the poor. He tells us the greatest happiness is gladdening and uplifting the impoverished and destitute because this is an emulation of Hashem. Chofetz Chaim, Introduction (Lavin) וְאִם הוּא יָתוֹם אוֹ אַלְמָנָה, (טו) אֲפִלּוּ הֵם עֲשִׁירִים, וְסִפֵּר גְּנוּתָם בִּפְנֵיהֶם, עוֹבֵר עוֹד עַל לָאו אַחֵר וְהוּא (שמות כ"ב כ"א): ''כָּל אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם לֹא תְעַנּוּן'', שֶׁהִזְהִירָה הַתּוֹרָה בָּזֶה שֶּׁלֹּא לְהַקְנִיטָן אוֹ לְהַכְאִיב לִבָּן בְּשׁוּם מִין צַעַר. וְעָנְשׁוֹ מְפֹרָשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה (שם כ"ג): ''וְחָרָה אַפִּי וְהָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם'' וְגוֹ'. Be'er Mayim Chaim 15