For thousands if years now, Jewish wisdom has been teaching us that we are not permitted to ignore the needs of the most vulnerable among us. The authors of the Torah and the Hebrew Prophets that came after them went to extra efforts to remind us that we have a responsibility to treat the orphan, widow and stranger with the same amount of respect that we would hope to receive ourselves. That’s why farmers would leave the corners of their fields unpicked and why Isaiah wrote “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17) They provided for the most vulnerable among us.
These were real life issues in their days. People on the fringes can die without the support of the community.
It is with these values in mind that I recommend you read this opinion piece by Susan Friedberg Kalson, CEO of the Squirrel Hill Health Center, a non-profit community health center. Susan’s words along with her actions are a living example of how we can live out the values that matter most to us. Please read Susan’s words and follow the links in her article so that your voice can be heard.