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 Which crime is worse, financial exploitation or verbal abuse?

 "Money can be reimbursed," the Talmud notes, "but the hurt from words is irreparable; 

money is a person's property, but words hurt the person himself. 

"Whether it's due to circumstance or nature, some people are more emotionally vulnerable than others. 

The Torah repeatedly tells us to watch our words with the widow, the orphan and the immigrant. Men are enjoined to speak sensitively to their wives. 

"The gates of prayer are sometimes closed," we are warned, "but never the gates of tears.

"Whether due to circumstance or nature, some people are more emotionally vulnerable than others"

Here are a few prototypes of verbal exploitation:

• Name Calling: "Hey Train tracks! Can you pick up Radio China with that mouth gear?"
• Chiding: "Cheer up, buddy! It's all for the good. 
• Must be that you did some sins that this suffering is now expunging!"
• Past Digging: "Look, Mary, a picture of you before the acne treatment!"
• Wasting My Time: Joe asks Bill for help in his business, and Bill sends him on a wild goose chase, purposely providing useless internet links, defunct phone numbers and connections that won't get him anywhere. 
• Bill says he meant well, but he knows the truth.
• A more subtle example: Wayne walks into a store with great customer service and juices the salesperson for all the information he needs while trying all the samples. 
• Then, once he's determined the best deal, he buys it at half-price online.
• Public Embarrassment: "It's your fault, Johnny, if you didn't prepare. 
• You're going to stand up there and make the presentation anyways."

"Better for a man to cast himself into a fiery furnace," the Talmud says, "than to shame his fellow in public." Publicly embarrassing someone, 

we are told, is not just breaking his bones–it's cold-blooded murder. 

If you have an issue with someone, deal with it privately. 

Be open and try to work out a resolution. 

Whenever possible, just forgive and forget and get on with life.
 

 You shall love your fellow as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)

The commandment to love one’s fellow is said to be the foundation of the whole Torah. 

In this painting we see the interconnectedness of people. 

Each one a part of the colorful tapestry of life. 

This was originally a vertical painting with intricate floral designs. 

When the canvas was turned sideways and white paint was added around the flowered shapes, figures emerged, 

harmoniously interacting with each other in a sunlit courtyard. 

According to the Baal Shem Tov, the love of one’s fellow is like a gateway into the palace of G‑d. 

“Love your fellow as yourself” —Leviticus.
“This is a major principle of the Torah” —Rabbi Akiva.
“A soul enters this world for seventy or eighty years just to do a favor for another” —the Baal Shem Tov.

Perhaps nothing has been as detrimental to the Jewish people. 

As the modern idea that Judaism is just a religion. 

We are much more than a religion. 

We are a single soul radiating into many bodies, 

bonding them as one. 

A healthy body is one where every part works in harmony. 

A healthy Jewish people is one big, caring family.

Where each individual loves the other like his or her own self. 

Where one Jew faces rough times and the others hold his hands. 

Where one meets good fortune and all of us celebrate. 

Where no one is labeled or alienated for his or her beliefs, behaviors or background. 

Where each runs to do an act of kindness for the other.

And shuts his eyes and ears to the other’s shame.

Follow Hillel’s golden rule: “If you wouldn’t like it done to you, 

don’t do it to the other guy.”

Love for those closest to home nurtures love for the extended family of humanity, 

And from there, love for all G‑d’s creatures. 

But if love doesn’t start at home, from where will it come? 

Practically speaking . . .

1. Start each morning by saying.

              “I accept upon myself the mitzvah to love my fellow Jew like myself.”

         2.  Follow Hillel’s golden rule: “If you wouldn’t like it done to you, don't do it to the other               guy.”

         3.  Speak only good about fellow Jews. 

         4.  Don’t even listen to a bad word, unless some real benefit will come through your conversation.

         5.  Care for your fellow Jew’s property and possessions as you care for your own.

         6.  Always be on the lookout for opportunities to do another Jew a favor.

         7.  Bring Jewish people together. Tear down the false barriers of age, affiliation and ethnicity.

         8.  Invite other Jews to share in the most precious thing we have, our Torah and mitzvahs.

 "And you shall eat, and be sated, and bless the L-rd your G‑d" (Deuteronomy 8:10). 

Thus we express our gratitude to the One who 

"nourishes the entire world with His goodness.

With grace, with benevolence and with compassion" (from "Grace After Meals").

Grace After Meals consists of four primary blessings

The first composed by Moses

when the manna came down from heaven in the desert.

The second by Joshua when the Children of Israel ate from the first 

Harvest after entering the Holy Land, and the third by Kings David and Solomon.

And the fourth by the Sages in Mishnaic times. 

The full "Grace" is recited only after partaking of a meal that includes bread. 

Shorter versions (Al Hamichyah or Borei Nefashot) are recited after other foods. 

 The Blessing After A Meal is recited seated, 

at the place where the meal was eaten. On days when Tachnun is recited: 

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept as we remembered Zion. 

There, upon the willows we hung our harps. 

For there our captors demanded of us songs.

And those who scorned us—rejoicing, [saying,] “Sing to us of the songs of Zion.” 

How can we sing the song of the L-rd on alien soil? 

If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its dexterity. 

Let my tongue cleave to my palate if I will not remember you, 

If I will not bring to mind Jerusalem during my greatest joy! 

Remember, O L-rd, against the Edomites the day of the destruction of Jerusalem,.

When they said, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundation!” 

O Babylon, who are destined to be laid waste. 

Happy is he who will repay you in retribution for what you have inflicted on us. 

Happy is he who will seize and crush your infants against the rock!

For the choirmaster, a song with instrumental music, a psalm. 

May G‑d be gracious to us and bless us, may He make His countenance shine upon us forever, that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 

The nations will extol You, O G‑d; all the nations will extol You. 

The nations will rejoice and sing for joy.

For You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever. 

The peoples will extol You, O G‑d; 

All the peoples will extol You, for the earth will have yielded its produce. 

And G‑d, our G‑d, will bless us. 

G‑d will bless us; and all, from the furthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.  

I will bless the L-rd at all times; 

His praise is always in my mouth. 

Ultimately, all is known; fear G‑d and observe His commandments. 

For this is the whole purpose of man. 

My mouth will utter the praise of the L-rd; let all flesh bless His holy Name forever.

And we will bless the L-rd from now to eternity. 

Praise the L-rd. 

This is the portion of a wicked man from G‑d.

And the heritage assigned to him by G‑d. 

Rinse the fingertips and pass them over the lips.

Then recite the following: and he said to me: This is the table that is before the L-rd.

ZIMMUN — INVITATION When three or more men eat together.

One of them leads the rest in the blessing. 

When ten or more eat together, add 'elo-haynu' as indicated. 

On days when Tachnun is not recited: A song of ascents. 

When the L-rd will return the exiles of Zion, we will have been like dreamers. 

Then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with songs of joy; 

Then will they say among the nations, “The L-rd has done great things for these.” 

The L-rd has done great things for us; we were joyful. L-rd, 

and return our exiles as streams to arid soil. 

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 

He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed.

He will surely return with songs of joy, Carrying his sheaves. 

By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song whose basic theme 

Is the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem]. 

The L-rd loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 

Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of G‑d. 

I will remind Rahav and Babylon concerning My beloved. 

Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, “This one was born there.” 

And to Zion will be said, 

“This person and that was born there”; and He, the Most High, will establish it. 

The L-rd will count in the register of people, 

“This one was born there.” Selah. 

Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], “All my inner thoughts are of you.”