Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19
Parshat Ki Teitzei
Ki Teitzei contains more mitzvot than any other portion of the Torah, seventy-four in all. They range from the battlefield to the home: returning a lost object, sending away the mother bird, building a guard-rail on a roof, honest weights and measures, paying a worker on time, care for the widow, the orphan and the stranger, and the laws of marriage and divorce. It closes with the command to remember Amalek.
Essays
E-Lights Ki Teitzei – The “Skeletons” in King David’s Lineage At first glance, there appears to be no thematic connection between the Torah’s prohibition against marrying an Ammonite or Moabite and King David’s declaration of gratitude to G-d for having afflicted him and ultimately saving him. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Corrupting the Power of Speech Ki Seitzei is the richest parsha in terms of its number of commandments. One of those commandments relates to the two nations of… Parsha Ki Seitzei – 3 X 13: Its Simple Arithmetic! Punishment for the sake of punishment is cruel and unusual from the Torah’s vantage point. Punishment is education and rehabilitation. Parsha Ki Seitzei – An “I” for an “I” G-d wants to meet us on our turf. G-d cherishes our initiatives. The ultimate G-dly achievement is Moshiach and it depends on us. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Double Your Money Life is a duality. We are both recipients and donors. At the very least, what we give should match what we receive. In the Messianic Age we will realize this duality at its maximum. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Going Out Our souls are in exile and yearn to be liberated. Personal redemption is the catalyst for collective redemption. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Going Overboard Doing a little bit more than required is not just an incremental addition. It transforms the act from selfness to otherness. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Holy Chutzpah It takes chutzpah to live as a moral and observant Jew in our immoral and amoral secularized society. It is this power of chutzpah that makes our generation unique and qualified for Redemption. Parsha Ki Seitzei – How Much Longer? Acting impulsively is not always a vice. When we respond, unprepared, to doing good, it is an indication that we have internalized goodness. Parsha Ki Seitzei – In Praise of Miriam The greatest praise for a person is his or her selflessness. The greatest measure of selflessness is to appear compromised so that others should benefit. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Invincible Our staying power comes from the most unsuspected sources. Acting moral when no one would know if we weren’t and valuing even small gestures and baby steps is the power behind our nation’s immortality. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Keep Our Word/G-d Keep Your Word Speech is G-d’s gift to humanity. Cherish it and guard it. G-d also uses speech to make promises. We ask Him to keep and cherish His promises for a better world. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Mitzvah Therapy Each Mitzvah has infinite value and power. A Mitzvah is enhanced by the quality of the act. Yet, the quantity of Mitzvah performances is even more significant. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Rebellious Child The greatest gift a parent can give his or her child is being a role model. Moral strength, mutual love and sensitivity of a parent constitute the ideal model. It is the best we can do to raise good children. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Send Us Moshiach and the Mother Bird! Three are the barriers to spiritual growth: External pressure, internal moral lapses and the gulf between mind and heart. The Messianic Age will tackle and remove these three challenges. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Stoned! Life is precarious. The Torah commands us to take precautions that we do not fall off a roof. Lest someone feels that falling and failing are inevitable, G- d promises us that He will take us into Hs secure embrace. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Take the High Road Our essence and default position is peace. War is a necessary evil. While fighting our battles we should never lose sight that we are above war. Parsha Ki Seitzei – The Five Mystical Dimensions of Marriage Marriage is society’s most challenged institution. If people would only know the true value and the mystical significance of marriage, divorce would become close to obsolete. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Two Strikes and You’re Out! Kindness and faith are twin, complementary virtues. Faith engenders kindness and kindness makes us receptive to faith. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Turn on the Lights Fighting evil is a positive and even noble cause. Generating light through positive action is a sublime and Divine endeavor. Parsha Ki Seitzei – What Can We Learn from a Thief? Evil is a façade. It is hidden good waiting to be revealed. Our challenge is to see the hidden good by both shunning evil, learning from it and then transforming it. Parsha Ki Seitzei – Who Schleps Us Out? The adage “G-d helps those who help themselves” is the foundation of our efforts to bring Moshiach. We were empowered to get ourselves out of exile. Let’s do it! Let’s do it! Parsha Ki Seitzei – Windows How do we combat the alienation of the youth? By teaching them how to open windows between their hearts and their minds.