Chevre, this week’s parsha is בְּהַר - בְּחֻקֹּתַי (Behar-Behukotai). We finish Sefer Vayikra. In the parsha there is a lot of discussion about how we interact with the land, like with Shemita, Yovel and redeeming the land. It then gets into the rules of slavery. This was abolished in Jewish law at various times around the world, but mostly around the mid 1800’s. What we can learn here, however, is how to treat our co-workers and colleagues. Unlike other slavery in history, Jewish owners of slaves were not allowed to injure or kill them. Actually, for certain injuries, the Jew was required to set the slave free. 

We also learn about preventing poverty, not taking interest. From a TAM perspective, I see this as part of my mandate for Customer Obsessed Cost Optimization. My goal when talking to customers is to make them as efficient as possible. 

May we all endeavor to treat our fellow people with respect and remember that every person we meet was created in HaShem’s image and is the product of a miracle. Even ourselves. Shabbat Shalom