Leviticus 19.14
“You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind.
You shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”
You shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”
This mitzvah builds a fence around the Torah by filling it with ethics and morals and by showing
goodness to those who are impaired, here through deafness and blindness. This commandment is an
important one, as respect for the impaired is a very important aspect in a welcoming and kind
community. This respect for the deaf and blind can be seen in many governments and organizations
which have laws and regulations in order to make the community one in which a deaf, blind, or other
impaired person can live with the regularities of a not impaired person. In addition, I interpret this
mitzvah as seeing God protect those who are impaired. Every pair of mitzvot before this one has had
a pair for a reason, a common theme, and this one pairs the fear of God with the respect of the
impaired. It also has a sense of judgement, as those who disrespect the deaf and blind will face the
power of God.
goodness to those who are impaired, here through deafness and blindness. This commandment is an
important one, as respect for the impaired is a very important aspect in a welcoming and kind
community. This respect for the deaf and blind can be seen in many governments and organizations
which have laws and regulations in order to make the community one in which a deaf, blind, or other
impaired person can live with the regularities of a not impaired person. In addition, I interpret this
mitzvah as seeing God protect those who are impaired. Every pair of mitzvot before this one has had
a pair for a reason, a common theme, and this one pairs the fear of God with the respect of the
impaired. It also has a sense of judgement, as those who disrespect the deaf and blind will face the
power of God.
My photo shows the sign for love in sign language. Ever since I was little, sign language has been
an important trait in my family, even though I know very little. My mother took sign language and is
now fluent and she also taught psychology classes at Gallaudet, one of the largest and most well
known deaf college in the world. As a Jew in the modern world, I can apply this mitzvah through
aiding those who need help and I can work to make life more accessible for those who are impaired.
In a last note, this photo is of the sign love because love is an important part of this mitzvah, it requires
people to be loving and kind to the impaired.
an important trait in my family, even though I know very little. My mother took sign language and is
now fluent and she also taught psychology classes at Gallaudet, one of the largest and most well
known deaf college in the world. As a Jew in the modern world, I can apply this mitzvah through
aiding those who need help and I can work to make life more accessible for those who are impaired.
In a last note, this photo is of the sign love because love is an important part of this mitzvah, it requires
people to be loving and kind to the impaired.
Eli, excellent post! You picked out a very important mitzvah and wrote your own beautiful interpretation. Thank you for sharing the important work your mom does and also your worldview on how we should treat others with different abilities.
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