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Jewish World Review
Feb. 21, 2006
/ 23 Shevat, 5766
He's not heavy he's my brother
By
Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir
I'm an invalid and don't want to be a burden to others.
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Q: As a result of illness I find it difficult to get around or to engage in activities I enjoy without help. Yet I am
reluctant to ask family members or friends to help because I don't want to be a burden to them. Is it unfair to
ask others to help me get out once in a while?
A: We can be grateful that modern conveniences and treatments make us more independent than ever.
Independence and self-reliance are important values, and they contribute to our feeling of freedom. But there is
a cost: in the past, when interdependence was more prominent, people took for granted the need to help
others and found it easier to expect help from others as well. Today, it becomes easy to fall into the trap of
thinking that we are really managing on our own, and expect others to do the same.
Just two generations ago, most men couldn't imagine managing a household without a wife, and most women
couldn't imagine financing one without a husband. Spouses had far less independence and fewer options than
today, but on the other hand the emotional bond between them was reinforced by material necessity. In a
situation of mutual dependency each spouse found it easier to feel a sense of gratitude, and in turn each one
had the satisfaction of knowing that he or she was truly needed.
The truth is that even nowadays, all of us, all of our lives, are a burden on others. As John Donne pointed out,
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent." We couldn't thrive for even a short
time without the elaborate web of mutual obligations that surrounds us. Nowadays this web is more impersonal
and anonymous than previously, so we feel independent, but the truth is that we are more dependent than ever.
Jewish tradition emphasizes that our entire lives are a web of mutual obligations. Our sages tell us, "All Israel
are responsible one for another." The word used for "responsibility" also refers to someone who backs a loan;
thus, every debt we take upon ourselves is also partially borne by others. Part of our obligation in society is to
help others with their particular needs and desires; we in turn do not need to feel ashamed or guilty to benefit
from the obligations of others towards us.
What we do find in Judaism is that a person shouldn't be an excessive burden to others; we should do our best
to manage on our own, but at the same time we remember that we are in a society built on mutual aid, which is
a two-way street.
For example, in the laws of charity the Shulchan Aruch (authoritative Code of Jewish law) states that "A person
should always distance himself from charity and subsist in misery, so that he shouldn't become dependent on
others". Yet the same chapter adds, "Anyone who is in need and is unable to subsist without taking, such as an
old, sick or suffering person, and because of pride desists from taking, is considered as one who sheds blood,
and takes his life in his hands, and has nothing to show for his distress besides transgression and sin." (1)
Likewise, we find in the laws of honoring parents: "A person should not place an overly weighty burden on his
children and be excessively particular about his honor, so as not to create an obstacle [to their obedience];
rather he should be forgiving and look the other way." (2) It is perfectly appropriate for a parent to make
reasonable demands on children when they have need of their help; they are however warned not to make
excessive demands. (The obligation to honor parents is primarily to help the parents with their own needs; a
person doesn't have to accept the parent's guidance in his own life, for example in choosing a spouse, a place
of residence, a profession and so on.)
Jews are sometimes known as pushy people, and there is some truth to this. It is probably not a coincidence
that among the handful of Yiddish words which have become common parlance we find the term "nudnik." Yet
we are also known as very generous people, always among the first to pitch in to any community projects.
These two traits are intimately connected. People who are reluctant to burden others often have little patience
for others who become a burden to them.
Our tradition educates us to recognize that human existence is by its nature a joint project. No person can
thrive for even a short time without the help of others, and it is illusory to believe in our "independence." We
should not strive to avoid all dependence on others; rather we should do our utmost to fulfill our obligations to
help others while keeping our own demands modest by moderating our needs.
A popular hit song from my youth (I'm dating myself) was the song "He ain't heavy, he's my brother." The line
has been traced to a 1924 magazine article about a scrawny boy lugging his younger brother to the park; when
the author asked if the kid brother wasn't too heavy, the youngster replied with the now world-famous line.
One verse relates: "If I'm laden at all, I'm laden with sadness; That everyone's heart Isn't filled with the gladness
of love for one another." When I see truly needy people denying themselves the help they need because they
don't want to be a "burden" to others who should feel privileged to lend a hand, I feel some of this sadness.
It's a healthy instinct to avoid being a burden to others, and even those with special needs may want to think
twice before asking for help. Yet ultimately we have to recognize that mutual care and concern is just part of life,
and seek an optimal and generous balance between giving and getting rather than a narrow focus on not
making demands. Don't sell yourself short; acknowledge the sacrifices others make for you but never forget
that your company and gratitude are valuable to others. In proper proportions, getting help with important
errands doesn't waste the time of your relatives or friends, it makes productive use of it.
SOURCES: (1) Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 255. (2) Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 240:19
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JWR contributor Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, formerly of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Reagan
administration, is Research Director of the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, Jerusalem College of Technology.
To comment or pose a question, please click here.
Previously:
All's fair in war?, II
All's fair in war?
Girth vs. worth
Is it proper to tax bequests?
Ethics of Being Overweight
Penalized for working swiftly
When is it a bluff?
'Rate and switch'
My paycheck is late!
Should schools cater to an elite?
All's fair in love?
Comfort and Competition
Do I need the caller's permission to put a call on the speakerphone?
Overtime for lost time
Is it unethical to play suppliers against each other to get the lowest bid possible?
Do family members have precedence in charity allotments?
What the world of business can teach us about our annual process of repentance and renewal
Are religious leaders subject to criticism?
Vindictive Vendor: How can I punish an abusive competitor?
Blogging Ethics: Is the blogger responsible for defamatory posts?
© 2005, The Jewish Ethicist is produced by the JCT Center for Business Ethics
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