The Greatest Mitzvah Redeeming Captives: Parashat Lech Lecha
Rabbi Yaron Reuven reveals the greatest mitzvah in Parashat Lech Lecha: redeeming captives. Lot is taken captive in the war and Avraham risks everything to rescue him. But Rabbi Reuven says, the fact Avraham rescued Lot gives us a hint today of what made him so special.
The Rambam writes explicitly in Hilchot Matanot Aniyim, chapter 8, halacha 10, that redeeming captives receives priority over sustaining the poor, and there is no greater mitzvah than redeeming the captives. He explains why: when a person is captured, they are hungry, thirsty, unclothed, and also at risk of losing their life. The Rambam goes even further - if someone pays no attention to redeeming a captive, he violates the Torah itself. This is not just theoretical. The Mishnah in Masechet Gittin 45a and Masechet Ketubot 52b discusses the laws of pidyon shvuyim in detail. The captive is in immediate danger on multiple levels - physical, spiritual, and emotional. They are suffering from hunger, thirst, exposure, and mortal danger.
Today many people call the entire generation of Jews Tinok Shenishba (captured babies) but they must not have read Parashat Lech Lecha where Avraham, the founder of the Jewish nation, teaches us the importance of doing KIRUV and rescuing actual prisoners of war. If you know someone is Nishba, send them this Shiur and set them free!
