1. What is this text saying?
2. How might this text be used to justify injustice in the world?
3. Can this text be read differently?
| Translation | Original |
|---|---|
| Always be happy when you are sitting at your table and those who are hungry are enjoying your hospitality, in order to lengthen your days in this world and the World to Come. [AJWS Translation] | והוי שמח על שולחנך, בשעה שהרעבין באין ונהנין על שולחנך, כדי שתאריך ימים בעולם הזה ובעולם הבא. |
1. Why should you be happy when you are feeding the hungry?
2. Why does feeding the hungry at your table lengthen your days in this world and the next?
3. Have you ever fed the hungry? How did it make you feel? Why?
1. What does this verse permit us to do? How does it restrict our consumption?
2. Why do you think Noah and future generations were allowed to eat meat?
1. Why did God place Adam in the Garden of Eden?
2. Is this image consistent with our notions of paradise?
3. How are you responsible for the Earth? What are some ways you express this responsibility? Where can we improve?
1. Why are these sins classified as arrogant?
2. What does this text teach us about how we should distribute our resources among everyone?
3. Thinking globally, in what ways are wealthy nations supporting the poor and the needy? In what ways are they not?
1. What are the distinctions between farming in Egypt and farming in Israel?
2. What affect could being reliant on rain and carefully sowing seeds, rather than an overflowing river easily watering your produce, have on how you relate to food?
3. Egypt in Hebrew (Mitzrayim) comes from the root word for narrow (tzar). In Egypt farming was literally narrow, along the banks of the nile, what 'narrow mindedness' is the text suggesting comes form the place and way of farming in Egypt?
בְקֻצְרְכֶם אֶת קְצִיר אַרְצְכֶם לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ לִקְצֹר וְלֶקֶט קְצִירְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט: וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תְעוֹלֵל וּפֶרֶט כַּרְמְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם:
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the corners of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am Adonai your God. [JPS translation]
1. How is the system of leaving the corners and the gleanings and the fallen food for the poor different than donating food?
2. What practices or values from these laws could we integrate into our modern lives and societies?
1. In your own words, what is the meaning of this text? How can you "buy food without money"? What is the criticism of this text?
2. In your life, how do you spend money on things that do not satisfy? How can we reform our spending practices to focus on things that are most important?
3.What is the connection between food, fulfillment and purpose in this text?
1. Why was Abraham sitting at the entrance of the tent? Did he know that the three men were approaching him?
2. Why does the text specify that the day was hot? Why did Abraham rush to provide the men food and water?
3. What can we learn from this behavior about the value of welcoming guests? Of providing for those in need?
עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה וְאֹהֵב גֵּר לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה: וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:
1. In what ways does this text suggest that we mimic God?
2. What is God's responsibility to us and what is our responsibility to others? What are the different sources of these responsibilities?
3. This text reminds the reader of Israelite slavery. In what ways is a history of slavery connected to doing justice and loving the stranger?