God promises that if a person shares his Yom Tov celebration with “God's four,” the underprivileged members of the nation, then He will ensure to enhance the joy and celebration of that person and his household.
The final section of Parashat Re’ei discusses the various mo’adim, the festivals that Benei Yisrael must observe over the course of the year. Twice in this context (16:11, 16:14) the Torah commands that we rejoice on this occasions together with our households and the underprivileged: “You shall rejoice…you, your son, your daughter, your servant and your maidservant, and the Levite…and the foreigner, orphan and widow…”
Rashi (16:11) comments, “The Levite, foreigner, orphan and widow - four of Mine corresponding with four of yours – your son, your daughter, your servant and your maidservant. If you make Mine joyous, then I will make yours joyous.” God promises that if a person shares his Yom Tov celebration with “His four,” the underprivileged members of the nation (the Leviyim were generally poor because they could not own agricultural land), then He will ensure to enhance the joy and celebration of that person and his household.
This comment reflects a notion that emerges from other contexts, as well, namely, that God treats the poor and underprivileged as the members of His family, so-to-speak. As Rashi writes, the four categories of people in need – the Levite, foreigner, orphan and widow – parallel the four members of one’s household – the son, daughter, servant and maidservant. The poor generally have few people on whom to rely and to whom they can turn for emotional and financial support. Particularly, foreigners, orphans and widows often feel a dire sense of loneliness and instability due to their difficult family situations. God therefore assumes the role of “father of orphans and judge of widows” (Tehillim 68:6), protector of the vulnerable members of society who defends them against those who seek to abuse their disadvantaged state. The Almighty indeed warns those who abuse the underprivileged, “If you torment him, it shall be that if he cries out to Me, I will assuredly hear his cries. I will become incensed and I shall kill you by the sword…” (Shemot 22:22-23). God treats crimes against the underprivileged as a personal offense against Himself, as it were, and He therefore responds with harsh retribution as though He had been personally betrayed.
For this reason, Yom Tov celebrations must include assistance and support of the needy members of the nation. On the festivals Benei Yisrael are to come to the Beit Ha-mikdash to celebrate together with the Almighty: “Three times a year, all your males shall appear in the presence of the Lord your God…” (16:16). He commands that as part of our festive visit, we bring gifts, as it were, both to Him – the special festival sacrifices – and to the members of His family – charity to the underprivileged. The observance of Yom Tov is therefore not complete without charitable donations, without ensuring that the special members of God’s “household” are cared for adequately and respectably, in reward for which God promises to extend His blessings to us and our households, as well.
Courtesy of Yeshivat Har Etzion - www.etzion.org.il