The Responsibility We Bear Towards Each Other

Taking responsibility for ourselves is the key to growth in all facets of life, whether financial, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual. But is there ever a time when we are expected to take responsibility for the actions of others? To paraphrase Cain, “am I my brother’s keeper?”

Our sages teach[1], “Everything we are granted by the Almighty is given to us on collateral”. What does this mean?

According to Rabbi Shimon Duran (1361-1444)[2] our adherence to the Torah is guaranteed by the collective body of the Jewish people, and God therefore rewards – and exacts retribution from – the nation as a whole in response to the deeds of individuals. As the Talmud teaches[3], “kulan areiveim zeh ba’zeh”, each Jew is essentially responsible for every other.

Similarly, continues Rabbi Shimon, before the Torah was given, the Jews were asked by God to appoint guarantors[4] to ensure that it will be safeguarded and adhered to. After a number of propositions, God finally accepted their suggestion that the children assume the role of guarantying the perpetuation and preservation of the Torah.

This serves as an important precedent for the idea that we are required to assume some level of responsibility for the actions of others. At its core, we are obligated to make every possible effort to inspire, guide, convince, cajole or otherwise charm, an individual who has strayed from the path of Torah to return to their Father in Heaven[5].

In the Torah portion of Bechukosai, the one we read last Shabbos, we are told that at a time of divine retribution, “each man will stumble over his brother”[6]. The Talmud[7] interprets this to mean that people will be held accountable (“stumble”) for the misdeeds of their fellow (“over his brother”).

Chassidic works explain[8] that in essence, all the Torah’s admonitions contain great blessings albeit in disguise. What blessing lies at the heart of this curse?

The same collective bond that holds us liable for each other, serves as the means by which we can be instrumental in benefitting each other, uplifting and inspiring each other to strengthen our commitment and devotion to Hashem.

In fact, sometimes we do this without being conscious of it at all. Although we may not be consciously focusing on reaching out to another person, but the fact that we are internally bound to one another, “areivin zeh bazeh” affords us the ability to uplift and inspire all those around us, even by simple actions.

It behooves us to recognize that whatever we do and wherever we are, we can strengthen the Jewish people as a whole. If we are in Shul or on vacation, at work or at home, our actions always have an effect on others – even if we are not conscious of it.

It goes without saying that the same applies when we intentionally go the extra mile to help another Jew. When a fellow Jew walks into Shul, we must extend a helping hand and make them feel comfortable. When a fellow Jew is in need of help, be it financial, emotional or spiritual, it is our duty to come to their aid and be there for them.   

Our celebration of the holiday of Shavuos invokes the precious and unique bond that we share with each other and reminds us of our responsibility (‘arvus’) to our brethren. May we merit celebrating this holiday together “as one man with one heart”[9] in the Holy Land with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.

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[1]) Ethics of the Fathers, 3:16.

[2]) Known as the Tashbetz in his work Magen Avos on Ethics of the Fathers 3:16.

[3]) Sanhedrin 27b.

[4]) Shir Hashirim Rabbah, 1.

[5]) See Vayikra 19:17; Rambam, Hilchos Deos 6:7.

[6]) Vayikra 26:37.

[7]) Sanhedrin 27b.

[8]) Likkutei Torah Bechukosai 48:2; Likutei sichos vol. 7, p. 362.

[9]) Rashi, Shemos 19:2.