Derasha 1 on Behar 25:35

Parashas Behar · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 25:35

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָ֥טָה יָד֖וֹ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּ בּ֔וֹ גֵּ֧ר וְתוֹשָׁ֛ב וָחַ֖י עִמָּֽךְ׃

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Torat Kohanim).

Core Text — Sifra

וְכִי יָמוּךְ אָחִיךָ. אַל תַּנִּיחֵהוּ שֶׁיֵּרֵד; הֶחֱזֵק בּוֹ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁמָּטָה יָדוֹ.

English: “And if your brother becomes poor.” Do not let him sink; strengthen him from the moment his hand falters.

Classical derasha (Sifra).

Support must be given as soon as a person’s financial stability begins to falter, before he falls into complete poverty.