<<Torah Thoughts>>

Dear Friend,

This week we read the Torah portion “Ki Teitze” (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19).

“Ki Teitze” contains 27 positive commandments (“do’s”) and 47 negative commandments (“do not’s”).

Our Torah portion is packed with fascinating insights. Due to limited time (and memory in you e-mail inbox!) we will only explore a few of them.

(Deuteronomy 22:6-7) If one happens upon a bird’s nest, there is a commandment to chase the mother away before taking the eggs. One may certainly not take the mother together with her young.

There is an array of explanations provided by the commentaries. The Sefer HaChinuch (13^th century Spain) uses this mitzvah as a launching pad for a discussion about whether the commandments have rationales and direct physical/ psychological benefits, or are simply the King’s decrees to be obeyed unquestioned by His subjects. The conclusion is that the mitzvot were certainly given to benefit humanity.

Maimonides (12^th century Spain, Egypt) explains that taking the eggs in the presence of the mother is cruel. Taking the eggs together with the mother endangers the species.

Nachmanides (13^th century Spain) argues that if the primary concern of the mitzvah was the animal’s well-being, it would be prohibited for humans to slaughter animals or take the eggs in the first place. Animals were given to humanity for our use, but we may not become indifferent to the suffering of living creatures. The purpose of this mitzvah according to Nachmanides is to cultivate sensitivity, thus refining and ennobling the human and facilitating the ultimate fulfillment of our raison d’etre.

(Deuteronomy 22:8) If one builds a house, one is obligated to put a safety fence around the roof. The Torah states that this is to prevent “the one who falls” from falling off your roof.

This law applies to any potentially dangerous area on one’s property, such as a swimming pool or a staircase.

Our Sages elucidate the striking redundancy of “the one who falls will fall off”. They explain that the “one who falls” is destined to fall and die anyway as a result of his past. The owner of the house must ensure that he will not play the negative role of the agent of Divine justice in this case. There is a principle that good things occur through the agency of the worthy and negative events transpire through the agency of those who are not worthy.

The wheels of history turn without our acquiescence. We may unwittingly choose our roles in the unfolding drama. Let us be sure to always play the “good guy”.

(Deuteronomy 25:17-19) Our Torah portion concludes with the Mitzvah of always remembering the evil perpetrated against our People by the nation of Amalek. This nation brazenly attacked the Jewish People when they left Egypt. They sought out the “soft targets”- the weak and infirm who were straggling behind. Their cowardly terrorist tactics are considered an act of contempt for G-d. By attacking the weak, they demonstrated fear of people, but no fear of G-d.

Upon inheriting the Land of Israel and defeating the enemies around us, the Jewish People are commanded to “obliterate the memory of Amalek from under the heavens”.

Amalek represents unadulterated evil. They are the nemesis and antithesis of Israel. We bring light and G-dliness into the world, whereas they bring darkness and emptiness. We treasure life, whereas death is their elixir. The ultimate task of the Jewish People is to dispel evil from this world.

History presents a fascinating phenomenon. The Jews seem consistently to be on the front lines of evil’s onslaught. A few more “recent” examples include Mohammed’s hordes massacring Jewish communities across Arabia en route to conquer the rest of the world for Islam. The Crusaders destroyed countless European Jewish communities as they carried the Gospel to the Holy Land. The Communists targeted Judaism first as they embarked on their mission to “enlighten” the masses. The Jew was the Nazis’ first stop on their quest to Aryanize the world. The People of Israel were the first on modern radical Islam’s long hit list.

It is no accident that we are their primary target, because we stand for everything that they hate. The name of G-d is called upon us. As long as the Jewish People hold steadfast to their mission, in the end good will prevail and evil will not remain even as a bitter memory.

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The HAFTARA (excerpt from the prophets) this week is the fifth in a series of seven “Haftarot of Consolation”. These are read between Tisha B’Av and Rosh Hashanah. This week we read from Isaiah 54:1-10.

G-d comforts the barren city of Jerusalem that is bereft of her children who were twice exiled from her. She is told to prepare for the return of her children by expanding her boundaries. She will no longer be shamed. G-d’s wrath has subsided. It will be replaced by eternal kindness and mercy.

Just as G-d promised Noah that the world will never again be destroyed by flooding, Jerusalem is promised that she will never again be removed from Divine favor.

May the modern-day expansion and development of our precious Holy City be the blossoming of the final Redemption.

Please take advantage of all the wonderful learning opportunities that the JLE offers!

Shabbat Shalom.

Best wishes,

Rabbi Baruch Price

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