The Robber, Slave and the Shomer | Rabbi Chanoch Yeres | Beit Midrash

Torah Portion and Tanach
Mishpatim

קטגוריה משנית

The Torah study is dedicatedto the full recovery of

Asher Ishaayahu Ben Rivka

3617

To extend beyond six years the servitude of a Jewish slave who had been enslaved in order to pay for a theft, the Torah prescribes the piercing of his ear at the doorpost.
Why the ear? Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai (Kiddushin 22b) explains that it was the ear which heard at Har Sinai the words "do not steal", and in addition it was stated "ki li bnai yisrael avadim"-"unto Me are the Jewish people slaves", "v’lo avadim l’avadim"-"and not slaves to other slaves." In both of these dictums the ear was delinquent of its duties and did not listen.

However, one may still ask: Why the ear? After all, the hand was just as responsible for stealing and taking the goods. Furthermore, if the ear is held accountable, let it be pierced immediately upon being convicted of stealing. Why wait until the end of the six years?

Rav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht z"l, Rosh Yeshiva of Kerem B’Yavneh explains by means of a parable: An individual who works hard during the six days of the week, barely finds a moment for Torah studies. When he reaches Shabbat and is entranced by the speakers and shiurim, he is inspired to undertake further delving into Torah. The man sincerely wants to change, leave his job and devote his time to learning Torah. Yet, when Shabbat ebbs away, and the weekly routine begins, his dreams and new commitments are slowly put aside or simply forgotten.With each Shabbat that he experiences, more shiurim and other lectures will accumulate in "his ear", and ultimately will enable him to fulfill his dream and change his lifestyle.

Similarly, it takes a long time for the slave to recognize that what truly lay behind his theft was his loss of shmiah-his power to hear and change himself. After the six years he completes as punishment for stealing, the lesson has been learned and he can now become a better person, growing closer to Hashem. However, if he voluntarily extends his servitude, he in essence gives up his hearing power and can only do what he is told to do by his master. This loss of the ability to be inspired, influenced and impressed in order to change his ways, is the tragedy that is memorialized with the pierced ear.

The lesson is clear: we must be careful never to enter situations or lifestyles where our ability to achieve spiritual heights is removed from our hands. Never turn a deaf ear. Listen and take advantage of change to come closer to both Torat Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.