I just returned from a trip to Israel. I am blessed to visit with my Mother who lives in Jerusalem, and spend some wonderful quality time with her. I appreciate every minute I am gifted with my Mother’s company. 

We played a lot of Scrabble. 

I love a good game of Scrabble. The challenge of creating words out of disparate letters is one I relish. Of course taking the jumble of letters and creating a 7 letter word is especially satisfying. 

The longer the word, the greater the points. 

This is a common place illustration of the importance of a word, especially a well constructed one. 

This week’s Torah portion is called Behar and one of the topics it addresses is words. 

The Portion continues the theme of holiness which has been the focus of the past few portions. First the Torah had addressed the holiness in our relationship with Gd and now it shifts to holiness in the foundation of Jewish society. 

In Behar the Torah states that one person is not allowed to afflict another. This injunction is actually mentioned twice.

What does it mean to afflict someone? 

There are two ways one can afflict another. 

One way is by negatively affecting or harming someone’s money or property. 

An interesting application of this law regards window shopping, a widely accepted practice many of us enjoy. 

What could be wrong with window shopping?

Imagine you are a shop keeper and someone enters the store. 

Your antennae goes up!

A potential customer. Immediately your hopes rise in anticipation of a sale. 

If the shopper had absolutely no intention to buy anything the shopper is afflicting the shop owner  by giving a false impression that a sale may be imminent. 

Why is this action prohibited?

Simply because it will disappoint the seller.

This is one act of affliction that is to be avoided. 

Why?

Because it will cause someone pain. 

That level of sensitivity creates a refined spirit. 

The Talmud states that if one enters a store with absolutely no intention to make a purchase,it is prohibited. 

Do not panic. 

All is not lost. 

The Rabbis teach us that in such a case, using the right words can ameliorate the situation. 

What can one do to continue window shopping with impunity? 

One only needs to speak honestly to the salesperson and explaining that you are “just browsing”. 

By explaining your intentions, the vendor will not waste time on you and can focus on other customers. 

(Some authorities also feel that foot traffic in a store is also valuable. When people see a busy store, they assume there is something exciting being offered, so as long as there is no deception of the salesperson there is no harm in looking even without intention to buy!) Whew!

Just by saying the right words to communicate one’s intent, we can take a prohibition that might occur by getting someone’s hopes up when we are shopping and mitigate the problem. 

Spending time with my Mom is impactful on many levels. 

We enjoy a good game of words but what I really learn from her is reflected in the words she chooses not only to play, but to say. 

She focuses on the positive and chooses to reflect on the blessings of her life rather than what is lacking, what others may see as an affliction. 

Life is like a game of Scrabble. 

Depending on how you place the letters you can end up with EVIL, or affliction if you focus on the negative or LIVE if you want to pursue a life of meaning. 

That’s a high score no matter which way you look at it!

Shabbat Shalom and so much love!