Timeless Torah

Approximately twenty five years ago two Israeli scientists, Dr. Leo Sachs of the Weizmann Institute and Dr. M. Bat-Miriam of the Israeli Institute of the Biological Research, came forth with an astounding theory. They analyzed the fingerprints of 4,000 Jewish immigrants and after careful analysis the scientists came to the conclusion that Jewish fingerprints show identical common traits which are not discernible in other races or groups of people. In other words, the Jew has a distinctive fingerprint!
Whether we accept their assertion or not, and whether further evidence will be discovered to either bolster or demolish their research, has yet to be determined. But this I do know, that in fact there is a time-tested and proven method of distinguishing the Jew - his hand.
This can be demonstrated in a hundred ways, but we will suffice with two. Our first proof comes to us from the final chapter of this week’s (Shoftim) Torah reading. Therein we find the sad tale of an unsolved murder which leads to the declaration from the elders of the city that, “Our hands have not spilled this blood.”
The Talmud wonders at the seeming ludicrousness of this avowed statement. Do we then suspect the elders of murder? Rather, the elders meant that the traveler was unknown to them. He had not approached them for help, and had he done so, they would not have let him go without food and without a proper escort. Indeed, had they been guilty of such neglect, they would have considered themselves as indeed having the dead man’s blood on their hands.
So while current government seeks to blame guns, TV, society and everyone else for the ills that plague our cities, the Biblical Jewish communal leaders looked inwards. Concern for others, even a wandering vagrant, was then a charter requirement of our faith. Our Torah and her prophets commanded it. Jewish history was permeated with it. And our contemporary Rabbis and leaders glorify it. You can tell the Jew by his hand. At the least, you should be able to tell.
Another insight that lends credence to the central role tzedakah plays in our religion is not from the weekly reading, but from the monthly calendar. The final month of the year, Elul, is set apart as a time for retrospection and improvement. The Sages found four passages in the Bible in which the first letters of four consecutive words spell the word Elul. Moreover, from these four verses we can infer the unique characteristics of this month of preparation.
The first deals with the cities of refuge concerning which it states, “And if a man lie not in ambush and (an unintentional murder) comes to his hand, I shall provide you a place to which he shall flee.” The underlined letters spell out the word Elul.
There is a tremendous comfort zone in associating this month with the institution of the cities of refuge. Just as the Torah provides man a physical asylum where he can atone for his carelessness, it similarly creates a month of refuge in which we can regain our spiritual balance.
Other sentences that develop Elul themes are, “The L-rd will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed,” and “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” These passages remind us of our dependence on G-d and His involvement in “circumcising” our heart, as well as the sublime, almost romantic relationship we share with our Master which is the reason for His tolerance and ultimate forgiveness.
All of the above however is only a prelude to the final verse quoted by our Sages which is taken from the Book of Esther and refers to our obligation to, “Send portions to one another and gifts to the poor.”
Besides the obvious connection between the first letters of the words that spell out Elul, what inherent message is there in this phrase that is important for us to incorporate into our Elul/pre-Rosh Hashana lives?
It’s that man must step forward to the plate and be ready to carry the ball. True, G-d might touch your heart and care for you, but it is you who must reach out and help another human being. A Jewish hand is a powerful tool. Using it to meaningfully impact another person below can make the heavens reverberate above. But only if we open it, for a closed hand cannot be distinguished and gives us no clue as to its owner.