Maakeh (building a fence)

The Torah considers one responsible for safeguarding one's own as well as others' health and wellbeing. Presented here is a partial collection of laws pertaining to guarding the life and health of oneself and others.

Learn about the mitzvah of Maakah—to construct a fence around a rooftop to protect against a hazard. Discover an interesting exception to this obligation and the reasoning behind it as we compare and contrast different situations, and in the end, apply th...

Every verse in the Torah is meant to be understood on many levels. When we look deeper into this verse, we can learn lessons that apply to all of us, even to someone who doesn’t own a house.

The Torah obligates a new homeowner to build a fence on the roof to prevent anyone from falling.

Set up guardrails to carefully control and temper your ego.

There are houses made of bricks, and houses built of effort and accomplishment. One can “build” up a friend to be a solid edifice of G‑d-centered living, or build a network that develops into an oasis of spirituality.

A caricature of neurotic self-absorption, or the most encouraging and optimistic perspective of reality in the history of human awareness?

If the person is going to fall anyway, why should I have to take reponsibility?

Learn the difference between a Shul and the Beis HaMikdash for needing a fence around the roof. A lesson in the dangers of arrogance and the need for a guardrail when reaching out to others.

From the mitzvah to make a fence around the roof of a new home to ensure safety, we learn that a new life-stage or a new spiritual adventure requires a new personal discipline.