About Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Rabbi Jack Abramowitz served as Director of Programs for NCSY before becoming Associate Director of the Pepa and Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue Services. Rabbi Abramowitz holds degrees in Jewish studies, communications and Higher Education Administration. Among his accomplishments, he authored NCSY's Torah on One Foot series of educational pamphlets and created negiah.org, the first abstinence web site for Jewish teens. Rabbi Abramowitz is the author of The Shnayim Mikra Companion on Torah, The Nach Yomi Companion volumes 1 and 2 on the books of the Prophets and the Writings, and The Tzniyus Book.

Recent Posts

Taryag: A Mitzvah a Day

Questions? Contact us at taryag@ou.org

PARSHAT Re'eh
MITZVAH COUNTER
Mitzvos to date: 450
Positives:189
Negatives:261
That can be performed today:192
Plus those that can be performed only in Israel:20

450. Don’t Forsake Me: The prohibition against neglecting the Levites


Beware lest you forsake the Levite… (Deuteronomy 12:19)

There are certain things that must be given to a Levite. In this mitzvah, we are cautioned not to be negligent in this responsibility. When we go to Jerusalem for the Festivals, it’s the perfect time to take care of such obligations.

The Torah warns us, “hishamer l’cha pen ta’azov es haLeivi,” “guard yourself lest you neglect the Levite…” As we have mentioned, the phrase “hishamer…pen” (“watch out that you don’t”) denotes a negative mitzvah despite its seemingly-positive phraseology. “Be careful not to do such-and-such” is the functional equivalent of “don’t do such-and-such.”

The basis of this mitzvah is that God assigned the Levites to serve in the Temple, rather than owning a portion of the land. Had they received a territory in Israel, they would have then worked the land for food. Since the Temple service is their portion, the other Tribes must support them. This is not only a means of support for the Leviim, it’s a source of merit for the other Tribes. Just as people would bring gifts to royalty on holidays, we should be careful not to neglect the Leviim, especially at holiday time.

This mitzvah applies at a time when the Jews reside in their land. It is discussed in the Midrash in Vayikra Rabbah on parshas Vayikra. It is codified in the Mishneh Torah in the second chapter of Hilchos Chagigah. This mitzvah is #229 of the 365 negative mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos.



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