Parashat Kedoshim

kedoshim 5768/2008

When the Torah instructs us that we should not 'put a stumbling block before the blind' or 'curse the deaf' if we are to be 'holy', it is possible to see these as two examples of mistreating or discriminating against those with a disability and to ignore the significant differences between the two cases.

In fact, the Torah is speaking about two quite different ways we can diminish the holiness in the world. The first case is by hurting someone by taking advantage of their weakness. Obviously, putting a 'stumbling black' before someone who cannot see it, whether that 'blindness' is physical or metaphorical, can lead to a seriously unpleasant or even dangerous outcome to the victim. On the other hand, 'cursing' the deaf causes no actual harm to the object of the abuse. In this case, the damage is done to the curser.

A society in which we feel that it is legitimate to take advantage of the weakness of our neighbours diminishes all within it. We all have weaknesses, some of which make us vulnerable. We rely on people supporting us despite the fact that we are imperfect and even expect them to compensate us for our failures or weaknesses, if necessary. When people genuinely do this for even the weakest members of our society, the society can raise its level of holiness. If we fail to acknowledge another's needs, weaknesses or vulnerability, it is as if we curse them, even if no actual damage occurs, and we diminish ourselves and our society and fail to respond to the divine call for holiness.