הנה מה-טוב ומה-נעים
שבת אחים גם-יחד
Hinei mah tov u-mah na-im, shevet achim gam yachad.
How wonderful it is to be together, with my brothers and sisters
(ט) וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶם֙ אֶת־קְצִ֣יר אַרְצְכֶ֔ם לֹ֧א תְכַלֶּ֛ה פְּאַ֥ת שָׂדְךָ֖ לִקְצֹ֑ר וְלֶ֥קֶט קְצִֽירְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תְלַקֵּֽט׃
(י) וְכַרְמְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תְעוֹלֵ֔ל וּפֶ֥רֶט כַּרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְלַקֵּ֑ט לֶֽעָנִ֤י וְלַגֵּר֙ תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(9) When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. (10) 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.
- How does Leviticus guide those of us who are not farmers?
- How might your family not "reap all the way to the edges" to provide for those less fortunate?
- Why does this particular commandment end with the phrase: I am Adonai your God?
תלמוד גדול או מעשה גדול נענה רבי טרפון ואמר מעשה גדול נענה ר"ע ואמר תלמוד גדול נענו כולם ואמרו תלמוד גדול שהתלמוד מביא לידי מעשה
Is study greater or is action greater? Rabbi Tarfon answered and said: Action is greater. Rabbi Akiva answered and said: Study is greater. Everyone answered and said: Study is greater, but not as an independent value; rather, it is greater as study leads to action.
Long Island Hunger Facts
- Approximately 283,700 people on Long Island receive emergency food each year – that’s 64,900 people every week.
- 39% of Long Islanders who receive emergency food are children under 18 years old. Children who are hungry are more likely than their peers to experience behavioral issues, reduced ability to learn social skills and impaired cognition.
- Nearly half – 48% – receiving emergency food assistance are the “working poor”: households that include at least one employed adult. Of these, 63% have monthly incomes below the federal poverty level. Nearly half report having to choose between paying the rent or utilities and paying for food.
