Derasha 1 on Vayikra 26:37

Parashas Bechukosai · tochacha · Passuk 37 · Unit 1

וְכָשְׁל֤וּ אִישׁ־בְּאָחִיו֙ כְּמִפְּנֵי־חֶ֔רֶב וְרֹדֵ֖ף אָ֑יִן וְלֹא־תִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ תְּקוּמָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י אֹיְבֵיכֶֽם׃

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites the teaching of mutual responsibility (arevut).

Core Text
“וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו” — אִישׁ בַּעֲוֹן אָחִיו, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁכֻּלָּם עֲרֵבִים זֶה בָּזֶה.
(הָיְנוּ רַק בְּאוֹתָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדָן לִמְחוֹת וְלֹא מִיחוּ.)

English: “They shall stumble one over another” — a man through the sin of his fellow, provided that all are guarantors for one another (limited to those who could protest and did not).

Type of Learning

Collective responsibility derasha (kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh).

What Is Learned

Failure to protest wrongdoing makes one share in the consequences of another’s sin.