The Ohr HaChaim HaKodesh
Support Bnei Torah and Do Not Cheat Them or Steal their Parnassa
“Do not oppress your fellow and do not steal from him” (19:13).
The Ohr HaChaim sees in this pasuk a hint at the unfortunate practice of some people, who cheat Torah scholars and Talmidei Chachomim of their rightful parnossa by denying support for them and not sustaining them and their limud Torah. The Ohr HaChaim asks why it is that we see that Bnei Torah lack parnossa in this world. Why is it that it seems like Hashem, Heaven forbid, does not provide for them? The Medrash (Yalkut Mishlei #904) personifies the Torah and depicts her as asking, “Why are my children poor?” The Ohr HaChaim answers based on a teaching of the holy Arizal: This material, lowly, physical world is simply incapable of holding and containing the bounty of greatness and goodness that the Tzaddikim deserve to receive. Hashem therefore sustains the average people and gives them parnossa; they, in turn, are supposed to support the Bnei Torah. Says the Ohr HaChaim that this teaching from the Arizal tells us that the wealthy and those who have a livelihood are a channel through which the blessing and support of the Torah scholars must pass through; they serve as a conduit from Hashem to give the Bnei Torah their rightfully deserved earnings that this world cannot otherwise withstand. If so, concludes the Ohr HaChaim, if they withhold their support for Bnei Torah, they are denying the Torah scholars their rightful parnossa and are little better than cheats and thieves. This is why our pasuk admonishes us not to cheat or steal from our fellow, called in our pasuk rei’acha, meaning the Tzaddikim and Bnei Torah, as in (Tehillim 122) where we are asked to act lemaan achai verei’ai – “for the benefit of our brethren and friends.”
Is Emotional Distance a Torah Prohibition?
Ohr HaChaim goes even further to define the kind of “hatred in the heart” that the Torah prohibits. It is not limited to complete hatred desiring that evil befall another Jew. Even feeling a slight distance in our heart is included in the prohibition “lo tisna”, which he explains refers to emotional distance rather than hatred. The Torah wisely juxtaposes this prohibition with the word “ִyour brother,” to teach us that the measure of אhatred that the Torah prohibits includes even a slight emotional distance that only a sibling would sense. Perhaps the Torah recognizes that no matter how much we work on ourselves, if we do not air out our negative feelings it will cause us to lose the level of love and relationship that is proper between siblings (Vayikra 19:17).
