Dvar Torah for Behar 1st Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/4kzre5b3 Parashas Behar begins by describing the unique laws of shemittah (Sabbatical year for all fields, with agricultural practices that allow the land to rest) and yovel (Jubilee year for all fields, when all land reverts back to original owners) (25:1–34). Nestled among the laws is the twice-mentioned precept not to wrong one another in business dealings (25:14, 17). Rashi explains that the first commandment is specific to appropriate business dealings, while the second restriction refers to verbally abusing or taking advantage of others. Why were these tenets placed in the middle of the shemittah and yovel laws? Rav Hirsch explains that the laws of shemittah and yovel are centered around the concept that anything that occurs within a certain time frame returns to its original state, such that people revert to being equals. In contrast, taking advantage of someone monetarily or verbally abusing them implies an attitude that one is better than their peers and justified in taking advantage of their weaknesses. We are warned not to wrong another and are immediately reminded that we have a God, that we are more alike than we are different. As Rabbi Yosef Levinson adds, instead of seeing faults and weaknesses in others, let us focus on their good qualities. Instead of causing pain, let us use words of encouragement. And instead of using body language to make others uncomfortable, let us consider using motions and expressions that bring happiness to others. Dvar Torah for Behar 2nd Aliyah: Actual text: https://tinyurl.com/3h9hrka6 The Torah conveys the rules of land purchases, and mandates that we not wrong one another (25:14) and, a few pesukim later, repeats, “And you shall not wrong one man to his fellow Jew, and you shall fear your God…” (25:17). Why is this directive repeated, and why is the fear of God included the second time? The Gemara explains that the second instance instructs us not to verbally abuse each other. The Torah uses the unique word “עֲמִית֔וֹ” (translated as fellow Jew), which can be split into two words that mean “a nation” and “with him.” The words themselves indicate that our sentiment be one of brotherhood: looking to help rather than abuse one another. The Torah concludes that causing someone anguish through words is more severe a sin than cheating monetarily and that we’ll ultimately have to answer to God for such wrongdoings, emphasizing the powerful effect of our words and how careful we must be when wielding those words. Please consider forwarding this to others so they can join! https://chat.whatsapp.com/I7IHQNPpKLF0adHHXTUYda