In the beginning of the Second Aliyah in this week’s parsha, Behar, it states that “If you sell anything to your neighbor or purchase from your neighbor, you shall not cheat each other” (Vayikra 25:14). Rashi comments that in business we must find what is best for both parties. If something is overpriced, then the seller is taking advantage of the buyer. If something is underpriced, then the seller is losing out. Neither of these are good. We must find the middle road where both parties win.

If you look closely at a mezuzah, you will see that it is on a slant. Rav Yissochar Frand once asked why we put this on a slant. The answer is because one opinion in the Gemara says that it should be placed vertical and another opinion says it should be placed horizontal. We compromise between these two opinions and put it on a slant. But, as Rav Frand pointed out, we never decide a halacha (Jewish law) this way, but if two halachos contradict each other, we only follow one of them instead of compromising. The reason we compromise here, though, is because this is the first thing you see when you enter your house. It is to remind you that when you walk through your front door that you will need to compromise inside of your house.

Your wife needs another pair of new shoes, but you want a nice juicy steak for dinner, and you only have enough money for one of them. You can yell and scream, but the best solution would be to let her buy the new shoes this week (I’m still not sure why she needs so many) and you get your steak a different week. Or your children want to play with their friends but the house is a mess. Maybe tell them that they need to clean for a few minutes before going out to play and then you will call them in five minutes early to finish cleaning. There are so many arguments that unfortunately happen in houses that can be avoided if we compromise with a win-win focus.

I’ll finish with a personal compromise that I made with my wife. When I was growing up, I was taught that ketchup is supposed to go in the fridge. My wife was taught that it is supposed to go in the cabinet. After we married, I would always take the ketchup and put it in the fridge and she would take it and put it back in the cabinet. Finally, we decided that what we needed was two bottles of ketchup.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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