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Why does Rashi (רש"י) emphasize that five people can't help a donkey once its load has fallen, rather than simply noting it becomes more expensive? Rashi's exaggerated language reveals that delayed help creates irreversible devastation, not just higher costs. The Torah (תורה)'s "v'chazakta bo" obligates us to investigate underlying problems and provide strength—not just respond to surface requests.
Rabbi Zweig delivers a profound analysis of the mitzvah (מצוה) "v'chazakta bo" from Parshas Behar, fundamentally reinterpreting Rashi (רש"י)'s famous mashal about the burden on a donkey. The shiur begins with the well-known Rashi explaining that when someone's financial situation begins to deteriorate, we should help immediately—like one person can steady a load on a donkey, but once it falls, even five people cannot restore it. Initially, Rabbi Zweig struggled with this teaching, questioning why we need a pasuk for such obvious logic—of course it's better to give $100 now rather than $1000 later. He first theorized that people prefer being dramatic rescuers rather than preventative helpers, citing the psychology of emergency fundraising appeals.
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Parshas Behar, Vayikra 25:35
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