This week's Torah portion follows on from the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai contained in last week's reading.  This week's parshah contains a set of laws which govern our ethical behavior in everyday life.

It is a common fallacy that Judaism belongs in the synagogue.  When we leave the synagogue, we leave our Judaism behind.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The Torah and the codes of Jewish law contain detailed and minute advice and ethical guidance for every aspect of daily life, from the most mundane to the loftiest.

One of the laws mentioned is that "When you will see your enemy's chamor (donkey) collapsed under its load, you may wish to refrain from assisting; nevertheless, you should help."

Beyond the simple meaning of this precept is a deeper explanation.

The word chamor in Hebrew, as well as meaning donkey, can also mean "material," referring to the physical body and its mundane desires and needs in a very physical, material world.

The verse above can be understood as follows:

"When you will see your enemy's chamor" -- initially a person may see their material self as the enemy.  In striving to refine our character traits and our selves, the physical realities and drives of everyday life often get in the way of spiritual growth -- the body and what it represents becomes an adversary to the soul.

"...collapsed under its load..."  In such conditions, the body is struggling under the weight of the Torah and its requirements.  Really the Torah is its load, meaning it is intended to help refine and transform the body.  When we do not recognize this, though, the body obstructs and may "collapse" under this load.

Our first instinct may be to "refrain from assisting," to simply negate the physical, since it is getting in the way.  This is not what Judaism demands.  Judaism is not about asceticism, but rather about elevating and transforming the physical objects and world around us by using them for holy purposes.  Therefore, we are charged with the responsibility that "nevertheless, you should help."  We are encouraged to take the physical body with its "load" of Torah and to realize that it is not really a burden, but that Torah is there to help and to refine the physical, to infuse it with holiness and spirituality.