Noticeably, when our fellow begins to falter, the Torah refers to him as achicha, your brother – not rei’acha, your fellow/friend. A very simple explanation accounts for this textual change. When a friend falters, suddenly our relationship with him takes an inward (toward ourselves) turn. We are no longer friends; we are philosophers (hypothesizing reasons why we need not help). “It is his fault.” “I warned him, but he refused to listen.” “Truthfully, we are not really that close.” “He runs after me. I never sought him out.” Each excuse is carefully presented – not to present reality, but to assuage ourselves of responsibility. Why? Because, when a man is successful, everyone wants to be in his orbit. Success creates followers. The moment he begins to falter, when his position is compromised, when he is no longer on top of the mountain, his admirers suddenly become distant, polite strangers. Others are rude, acting as if they have never known him. Failure exposes the truth about relationships.
The Torah’s hashkafah, outlook, is different, because the Torah’s Author is not bound by human frailty and condition. When a Jew stumbles (and “surprisingly” it happens), be it financially, spiritually, morally – and emotionally (this is something we tend to run away from, because we are not prepared to accept it), the Torah does not label him “that man,” the man who failed, but rather, achicha – your brother. The use of achicha is deliberate. A brother is neither chosen, nor bound by how he may benefit you. A brother is bound by origin. The relationship is not bilateral, based on mutual gain, but vertical, harking back a generation to shared parents. This is a bond which is unbreakable, because the two share one source – the same blood. A brother is not optional, whether their relationship is irritating or inspirational. To reject a brother is to slight one’s parents.
Let us go one step further. We all share one Av – Hashem. We all stood together at Har Sinai as Hashem created our family destiny. When we ignore our fellow Jew, Hashem asks, “Did I not create you both?” The world stands with you when the sun shines at you, when you stand tall, accomplished and proud. Unfortunately, a time may come when your brother is unable to stand alone. This is when the Torah commands you to stand with him. After all, is that not what brothers are for?
