Every Jew Can be Fixed:
The Chasam Sofer learns this pasuk to be teaching us that Hashem opens the doors of teshuva for every Jew, even the lowliest person, allowing everyone to return to Him.
He explains it as follows: “You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep straying and ignore them.” This can be understood to mean that one should not see a fellow Jew straying from the proper path and ignore him because he thinks there is no hope for the sinful individual to ever do teshuva. Even if the person has strayed extremely far, to the extent that “your brother is far from you and you don’t know him (ibid:2)” because he is so far gone, still and all: “You should gather him into your house” and draw him close.
This is what Rav Yochanon did for Reish Lakish (Bava Metziah 84A) and what Hillel did for the man who wished to convert (Shabbos 31A). And one should do this “until your brother seeks you out”, meaning until he comes to seek a way to do teshuva. And then “you shall return him” to the ways of Hashem.
More in this printout
- Defeating the Yeitzer Hara With EmunahThe Ahavas Shalom explains how bitachon and emunah are the primary tools for overcoming the yeitzer hara and achieving victory in one's spiritual battles.
- Fighting for VengeanceThe Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh explains why the Torah prefaces the laws of Isha Yefas Toar by emphasizing that war must be fought solely for the sake of Hashem.
- Marriage as a Strategy Against the Yeitzer HaraExplore how the Sefer Toldos Yaakov Yosef views marriage as a practical strategy to combat the yeitzer hara by focusing one's energy on family and responsibilit
- The Son of the Hated Wife is Always the FirstbornThe Abarbanel explains why the firstborn son is often born to the less-loved wife, citing Hashem's mercy on the oppressed as seen in the story of Leah.
- Like Father Like SonThe Munkatcher Rebbe explains that children emulate their parents' actions over their words, emphasizing the importance of being a positive spiritual role model
- Unbecoming for an Old ManRav Akiva Eiger explains why the exemption for an elderly man's dignity applies to returning lost objects but never to showing kindness to one's own relatives.
- One Who Helps Others Helps HimselfRav Yitzchok of Vorka and the Sefas Emes explain how helping others through the mitzvah of hakim takim ultimately elevates the helper's own character and soul.
- The Enemy Becomes Like a BrotherRabenu Bechaya explains how the mitzvah of helping with a fallen donkey transforms an enemy into a brother by eradicating hatred through acts of kindness.
- A Proud Heart to Serve HashemRav Bunim of Peshischa explains how the word gedilim teaches us to serve Hashem with a proud, uplifted heart rather than feeling too small or humble.
- The Lowly TzitzisRav Yechezkel of Kuzhmir explains why the blessing on a tallis mentions the tzitzis specifically, highlighting the spiritual significance of their lowliness.