Exodus 20 v 10 the Torah tells us not to labor on Sabbath - Obligations start at home!

10. but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the L-rd, your G-d; you shall perform no labor, neither you, your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your beast, nor your stranger who is in your cities.

I was asked a question this morning the 16th of Shevat 5774, why the order of the verse " neither you; your son, your daughter,... your animals and the stranger who is in your cities. "

The question my friend Lionel asked us is why a stranger comes after an animal, how could it be the Torah puts the animal before the stranger?  I think it may be because the Torah speaks to its reader, the instruction is to ourselves and what we can control and influence best.  I am suggesting that we are responsible for every fellow, but our responsibility is limited to what is in our power to do and starts with those closest to us.

We can obviously control ourselves best, then we can have influence over our children that live under our roof, and the order says responsibility starts with those in our own home, then our own animals they are all in our domain.  Once we have the immediate environment taken care of we are responsible for those in close proximity.

But start with the Home, and those closest to you... :)

Have a Good Shabbos

Michael.