Today’s Torah portion includes 70 of the 613 commandments, mitzvot in the Torah. As part of Moses’s long discourse, his farewell address, his final instructions to the Israelites, it provides a structure of what society should look like to provide a just, fair world. We’ll leave aside for another year the questions of whether these are Moses’s own words, G-d’s words, or some editor and what exactly is a commandment. 

It repeats ideas we have heard before—some of them almost exact quotes from the Holiness Code in Leviticus.  

“You must pay out the wages due on the same day, before the sun sets, for the worker is needy and urgently depends on it.” While not needy per se, my first week on the job at Fuld and Company, owned by an Orthodox Jew, Lenny Fuld, he hand delivered a hand written check, because of this very verse. Someone had forgotten to add me to the payroll and there was no commercially processed check. It was most welcome because it was a time, like for many Americans we were living paycheck to paycheck. I almost cried when Lenny appeared. 

We are a week past Labor Day Weekend. I grateful for unions and the role that the Jewish community historically has played in making sure that the rights of laborers have been protected. There are still Jews active in the labor movements and I am grateful for them and organizations like the Jewish Labor Committee and Bend the Arc. They work tirelessly to ensure things some take for granted: things like fair wages, health care, the five day work week with 8 hour days, and yes, an emphasis on safety in the work place.  

Safety plays a role in today’s portion to, as we are exhorted to make sure that we have a parapet surrounding our roofs so that no one will fall off.  

But perhaps what comes through loud and clear is the need to protect our most vulnerable. Over and over again the portion reminds us to take care of the widow, the orphan and the stranger.  The Talmud reminds us that 36 times the Torah tells us to take care of the widow, the orphan and the stranger. In this portion we are told:  

“When you reap the harvest in your field and overlook a sheaf in the field, do not turn back to get it; it shall go to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow—in order that your God, Adonai, may bless you in all your undertakings.” (Deut. 24:19) 

“When you beat down the fruit of your olive trees, do not go over them again; that shall go to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.” (Deut. 24:20) 

“When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not pick it over again; that shall go to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.” (Deut. 24:21) 

We should leave the corners of our field. We should not beat the olives a second time to create olive oil. We should find ways to feed the hungry.  

“You shall not subvert the rights of the stranger or the fatherless; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pawn.” (Deut. 24:17) 

“You should have just weights and measures.” (Deut. 25:18) 

Why—because we were strangers in the land of Egypt—we know what it is like to be a slave, to be so vulnerable. 

And there are two commandments that are essentially about succession and legacy: 

“when he wills his property to his sons, he may not treat as first-born the son of the loved one in disregard of the son of the unloved one who is older. Instead, he must accept the first-born, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion*double portion Lit. two-thirds. of all he possesses; since he is the first fruit of his vigor, the birthright is his due.” (Deut. 21:17-18) 

As we watch the spectacle and the pomp and circumstance unfold in the United Kingdom this week, I can’t help but remember this portion. As we listen to the words of Queen Elizabeth II, of blessed memory, talking about dedicating her life to a life of service to all and then having the now King Charles the III echo his mother’s words and example, I can’t help but reflect back on the notion that back in the day, the rights to inherit blessings and property went to the first born son. But also, there was a need to protect a widow by allowing the brother-in-law to marry her. A woman also had a right to divorce. Both of these were designed again to protect those most vulnerable. It set early Judaism apart from the surrounding cultures.  

Today we are watching as the Royal Family follows ancient traditions around inheritance of titles and property. Some of this seems archaic to us. Some of us wonder will Harry and Wiliam reconcile. Some question what any of this has to do with us, here in America, that fought a war to be free from British monarchy.  

In the Book of Samuel, we learn that the Israelites wanted a king so they could be like other nations. (I Samuel 1:8-19) Despite, G-d, The King, not really wanted an earthly king, G-d told Samuel to listen to the people. Samuel anoints Saul as king.  

Our portion ends with the story of Amalek—we should remember not to forgot what Amalek did. Let me underscore that. We should remember not to forget. What did Amalek do that was so destructive that we have to remember it for all times? That Saul lost his throne because he didn’t wipe out all the Amaleks? That some think Haman was an Amalekite that this is why we read this again just before Purim? That some even think Hitler was a descendent? The King of the Amalekites attacked the rear:
“how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear.” (Deut. 25:17-19) 

How do we live out taking care of our communities most vulnerable here at CKI?
In a number of ways. With our community garden which supplies healthy, nutritious veggies for the soup kettles and the neighborhood. With our participation in helping with those soup kettles when there is a fifth Tuesday of the month. With our collection this weekend of period products for the Community Crisis Center. With the annual Kol Nidre collection for Food for Greater Elgin. By advocating for mental health services. By visiting the sick. In so many ways.  

The widow, the orphan, the stranger…the most vulnerable amongst us. The mandate and the commandments are clear. Come join with me as we protect those most vulnerable. After all. It is a commandment.