A new proverb was added to the Mishlei section on Sunday August 20.
People who are granted the privilege of sharing their youthful years with brothers or
sisters don’t give much thought to the powerful forces that can affect such a
relationship. Hidden beneath the surface of comradeship and instinctive goodwill
there is the potential for intense love born of a shared identity. At the same time
there is the surprising potential of intense and lasting hatred born of envy and
resentment.
These powerful emotions are inherent in the circumstance of the sibling relationship. They are brought into actuality when the right conditions are present, such as when a brother or sister is in desperate need or when there is an inheritance to be shared.