Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Behar: Fear of G-d

The Torah commands in Parashat Behar (25:17), "Ve’lo Tonu Ish Et Amito," forbidding us from doing and saying certain things that cause our fellow distress and anguish. One of the examples given is walking into a store and browsing through the merchandise without any intent to make a purchase. The storeowner becomes hopeful of making a sale when he sees a prospective customer entering the shop, and then experiences a great deal of anguish when the customer leaves without making any purchases.

This verse concludes, "and you shall fear your G-d, for I am Hashem your G-d." Rashi explains that the Torah added this warning because proper observance of the prohibition of "Ve’lo Tonu Ish Et Amito" requires genuine Yir’at Shamayim – fear of G-d. If one says or does something that causes his fellow emotional harm, he can always make it appear as though this harm was unintended. For example, one can claim that he entered the shop to look for an item to buy, but did not find anything to his liking. Only Hashem knows what is in our minds and in our hearts, and so only He can know whether we have violated this command. One must live with an awareness of the fact that G-d has full knowledge of our thoughts and intentions, and this awareness will ensure that we do not cause people distress under the guise of innocence.

Many people are intimated by the concept of "Yir’at Shamayim." They think that living with "fear of G-d" means living a stressful life, always worried and anxious. They feel that if they live with this awareness, they will be paralyzed and unable to enjoy life. But this is not correct. As Rashi’s comments show us, "Yir’at Shamayim" helps us live the right way and stay on the right track. It prevents us from cutting corners and acting unethically in the hope of never getting caught. Fear of G-d is nothing to fear. It is a vital asset in our pursuit of a happy, ethical and fulfilling life, and something we should wholeheartedly embrace, rather than avoid. By living with "Yir’at Shamayim," we help ensure that we will not fall into the trap of immoral conduct, and adhere to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all our dealings.


Related Parasha
Parashat Behar- Experiencing the Sweetness and Delight of Torah - 2023 Year
Parashat Behukotai: Living Without Worry - 2022 Year
Parashat Behar: Unquestioning Compliance - 2022 Year
Parashat Behukotai: The Unparalleled Power of a Group - 2021 Year
Parashat Behar: The Way to Look at a Fellow Jew - 2020 Year
Parashat Behukotai- Toiling in Torah - 2019 Year
Parashat Behar- Letting the Blessing Flow - 2019 Year
Parashat Behar-Behukotai- The Torah’s Concept of “Freedom” - 2018 Year
Parashat Behukotai: The Misvot We Do Not Understand - 2016 Year
Parashat Behar: Financial Security - 2016 Year
Parashat Behar-Behukotai: Freedom and Family - 2015 Year
Parashat Behukotai- The Blessing Among The Curses - 2014 Year
Parashat Behar: Shemita and Mount Sinai - 2014 Year
Parashat Behar: The Desire for Control - 2013 Year
Parashat Behukotai: The Effort and the Results - 2012 Year
Parashat Behukotai- Torah and Peace - 2011 Year
Parashat Behar- Sometimes, Less is More - 2011 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Behar / Bechukotai - 2010 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat Naso: Our Collective Responsibility
Shabuot and the Exodus From Egypt
Parashat Behukotai: The Unparalleled Power of a Group
Lag BaOmer: Profit Sharing
Parashat Ahare Mot/Kedoshim: Keeping Hashem’s Presence Among Us
Parashat Tazria-Mesora: Self-Destructive Arrogance
Parashat Shemini: Caring for Our Sacred Soul
Pesah- Unity as a Prerequisite to Redemption
Pesah: Seeing the Goodness In Others
Pesah: Reexperiencing Spiritual Redemption
Parashat Vayakhel: The Satan’s Weekly Visit
Parashat Ki Tisa: Immersing in the “Mikveh Yisrael”
Purim: Reverse Inheritance
Parashat Teruma: The Permanence of the Torah
Parashat Mishpatim: The Special Joy of Anticipating Redemption
1002 Parashot found