YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Achrei Mot
Following is a rough translation of the Zohar’s strong statement. Whoever shortchanges the payment of a worker is like one who takes the soul of the worker and the members of his family. He harmed the soul of the workers; Hashem will shorten his life and take away from his Life to Come. The Rabbis said that the above is true for rich workers and all the more so for poor ones. This is how Rav Hamnuna would act: at the moment his worker would complete the job, he would say, "Take you soul," and he would pay him right away. Even if the worker said that Rav Hamnuna could hold on to the money because he did not need it yet, he would not agree. Rav Hamnuna would say that just as he could not be master over his worker’s body, so too he could not be master over his soul. This is something that is reserved for Hashem, as the pasuk says: "In Your hand I entrust my spirit."
This is among the sources that illustrate the extent to which the Torah was careful that we not detract from a worker’s rights. The matter is all the more so when the worker’s economic status is low and he makes no more than minimum wage. This applies not only to the wages of waiters and supermarket cashiers. This applies also to workers in educational institutions, including Torah education institutions. Not always do they receive all the benefits that are coming to them according to the law of the State, whether it be various social benefits or timely payment. Our parasha teaches that it is not enough to be careful about the kashrut of the food that the institutions feed their students and about modesty in dress and in action. They should be even more careful not to cheat workers out of what they deserve, whoever and wherever they work.
We hope that the "Torah world" will serve as a model for proper treatment of workers, just as it should be a model in a variety of Torah-mandated areas of behavior. This is included in the title and opening of our second parasha: "Be Holy."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
