There are six sections of the Talmud. One of the sections is, "Nezikin (Damages)." An entire sixth of the entire Jewish law deals in damage-related subjects...everything e.g. property rights, definitions of damage, severity levels of damages, causations of damage, responsibilities in guarding against damages, court procedures, theft, negligence, restitution and penalties, business and finance law, you name it. Damages is right up there in the "big time" with shabos, holidays, koshruss (dietary laws), prayer, blessings, marriage, and all the other more widely-known goodies.

In Isaiah 37:6 there are six words in this prophetic verse, and each word in the prophesy corresponds to one of the six sections of the Talmud. The Talmud (Shabos 31a) tells us that the word corresponding to the section on "Damages" is "yeshu'os (salvations)." "Damages" deals with how not to cause any damage and how to rectify and pay back if you do. Instead, doing good for others is constructive, as it says, "The world will be built by lovingkindness (Psalms 89:3)."

Any act of hate, spite, meanness, pettiness, selfishness or injuriousness is scorned by the Torah. The Talmud [Yoma 9b, and elaborated in Gittin 55b-56a] tells us that it is such behavior that caused G-d to bring us into this 2,000-year long, blood-drenched exile. Any Jew hurting or damaging any other Jew brings destruction. The message is that by protecting from damaging any Jew in any way is key to personal and national salvation.

The next point in the Talmud is that when one passes from this world and comes to judgement, he is asked several questions. One of the questions is whether he engaged in wisdom and understanding. Even if one learned Torah but did not have fear of Hashem, he is like one who has keys to an inner chamber but lacks the keys to the outer door. He still cannot enter. Torah must be accompanied by fear of sin and by sincere and practical piety (Shabos 31a-b).

To be continued.