During the 17 years that I’ve been living in Glen Cove, I’ve grown to support certain businesses—the dry cleaner, the hairdresser, the coffee shop.
But perhaps one of the most interesting is the station where I purchase my gas.
I don’t know how it started—perhaps it was a cold day—or because it’s located near the mechanic I use—but when I’m down a few gallons, I often pull into the first station on the left as you enter neighboring Locust Valley.
It’s full service. The people are friendly, and over the years we’ve developed a relationship. But one of the main reasons I stop there is to observe the activity on the curb across the street.
There, every morning, day laborers line up, carrying backpacks filled with sandwiches and drink, waiting to be selected to work by passing landscaping companies or construction contractors.
But the occupation of “day laborer” is nothing new. It dates back to ancient times, and has much to teach us today about how to treat those who we employ.
How interesting that among the list of 51 mitzvoth (commandments) outlined in this week’s Torah portion titled Kedoshim (You Shall Be Holy)—one of the most important relates to the status of these day workers.
It tells us that when you hire a laborer, “don’t make them wait to be paid.” Says the Torah: ”The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning.” (Kedoshim 19:13)
It is such an insightful mitzvah.
These days—and we can all relate—when we have a refund coming to us, a customer service agent will often say, “The funds will be processed within five-to-10 business days.” Sometimes longer.
The delay in receiving our refund doesn’t financially burden most of us, but imagine what happens to someone who relies on every dollar.
It’s estimated that about 32 percent of Americans run out of cash before payday. An entire industry known as “pay day loans” flourishes because of this reality.
The Torah respects and empathizes with those who perform many kinds of work that many are reluctant to perform. In ancient times—as it is today—a person’s work was attached to their dignity. Our tradition also emphasizes that any type of work contributes to society.
In fact, the great Sage, Maimonides, stressed that a scholar who sits and studies all day – relying on contributions – and performs no meaningful work “steals from others” and will not be afforded a place in the world to come. (Maimonides: Mishneh Torah 13:10)
In ancient times, like today, a laborer, or their spouse, would pack a day’s worth of food or water, and at the end of the day, would hopefully return with enough shekels to sustain their family.
Money in the pocket, for a hard day’s work, gave them a sense of pride and dignity. But imagine how they would feel, if they came home empty handed.
Therefore, by establishing a commandment regarding the proper way to pay someone, the Torah displays not only an interest in life’s great theological questions, but also in the hopes, dreams and dignity or the individual who toils for a few shekels per hour.
This week’s parashah is one of the most “famous” in our tradition.
It offers a series of legendary commandments: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Don’t hold a grudge.” “Assign a portion of your earnings to charity.” “Be kind to the stranger who dwells among you.” “Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind.” “Do not deal falsely with others.” (Kedoshim 14-17)
And when we follow these commandments, we create a moral environment—a framework, a set of norms—therefore establishing a “holy” community.
I remember my brother, in his youth, delivering the Sunday Express newspaper, and needing to return too many times to collect his $2 a month fee from some customers.
I remember venturing out on my own as a self-employed communications consultant, waiting for more than a month for the paperwork and the next check run to be completed before I could get paid and be able to support my family.
I remember my father and mother running to the mailbox for weeks, looking for a payment from a customer when my dad launched his own business.
The Torah addresses that equity this week: Those with more cannot be lackadaisical about compensating those who have less.
That attention to justice—seen on street corners, in the market, person-to-person—makes for a just society—not only in the eyes of God, but within our society.
Says the Torah: “You shall be holy—for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Kedoshim 19:2)
Or as I see it: “Envision a godlike action or response in every situation—and then you shall be holy.” For there is a spark of God within each of us.
Therefore, as the Torah reminds us: “Honor your neighbor as yourself,” inspires us to be kind to all, for we have all been vulnerable at certain times in our lives.
Pay on time, take care of those who are in need, and treat every person with dignity—no matter what kind of work they perform—whether they begin each day in a corporate office or on the curb opposite a gas station.
In short, live life “a cut above.”
And if we do so, God will continue to dwell in our midst.
For it is holiness that God requires of us—not just in heaven, but within the small details of living every day.
Shabbat shalom, v’kol tuv.
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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