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Overview of the Weekly Reading: Ki
Titzei
To be read on 13 Elul 5765 (Sept. 17)
Torah: Deut. 21:10-25:18
Haftorah: Isaiah 54:1-10 (5th
of the Seven Haftorahs of Consolation)
Pirkei Avot Chapter 1-2
Ki Titzei is the 6th Reading out of 11 in Deut.
and 49th overall, and 21st out of 54 in overall
length.
Much of Ki Titzei is a series of laws. The first describes
the process of converting and marrying women captives of war from other
nations. Next are the laws of a firstborn son's inheritance, the punishment
of a rebellious son, burial of a hanged sinner, returning lost articles,
helping a Jew's fallen animal to stand and return its load, the prohibition
to wear clothes of the opposite gender, removing a mother bird before
taking her eggs or young, and placing a guard rail on the roof of a
building. This is followed by the prohibition of planting together different
plant species, plowing with different animal species under one yoke,
and wearing a garment of linen and wool. Male Jews are commanded to
wear tzitzit (fringes) on four cornered garments. Next are the laws
of the defamed wife-accused of false virginity or infidelity-and the
consequences when the accusation is proven true or false. Laws regarding
betrothal, rape, incest, bastardry, and marriage to converts from certain
nations are also listed. The Jews are commanded to be modest even at
war, both sexually and when relieving themselves. Jews are forbidden
to return runaway slaves (who came to Israel from elsewhere) to their
masters. The Jews are forbidden to be promiscuous, and to deduct interest
from other Jews. They are also required to fulfill vows on time, allow
employees to eat from produce they are working with, and are explained
the laws of divorce and remarriage. A bridegroom is not allowed to be
drafted; a millstone may not be used as security for a loan; and a kidnapper's
punishment is described. The Jews are reminded to be careful about laws
of leprosy, how to take security for loans, and to pay wages on time.
Certain close relatives may not testify against each other; widows and
orphans must be treated properly; forgotten harvested produce must be
left in the field for the needy; flogging by court order must be exact;
and animals may not be muzzled when treading grain. When a man dies
leaving his wife childless, his brother or closest kinsman is commanded
to marry her. The laws of such a case are described as well as a situation
where the relative chooses not to marry the widow. Next is the law concerning
a woman who became involved in an assault on her husband. The Jews are
reminded to be honest in their weights and measures, and to remember
how Amalek attacked the Jews when we went out of Egypt.
FROM THE MASTERS OF
KABBALA (K:49-65/Ki
Titzei)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:49-65/Ki Titzei)
Now if you say that this angel Metatron is a commoner, this is
only correct when compared to the Master of all blessings [G-d]. We are
warned not to take the blessing of an ordinary person lightly, and that
"ordinary person" is a commoner compared to a King; [this commoner
is] the servant Metatron. Now Adam, the first man, didn't safeguard the
honor that was given to him.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy Ari,
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed (A:49-65/Ki
Titzei)
Know, that the hair of Zeir Anpin is black, due to the influence
of the states of gevura [which produce this hair]. [His hair] is black
as a raven, due to [the influence of] the attribute of judgment.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Ba'al
Shem Tov (S:49-65/Ki
Titzei)
However, the "shell" of sin prevents the arousal of this
goodness Above. But when a person repents, the eleme
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V:49-65/Ki
Titzei)
"You shall not wear a garment of different sorts (sha'atnez),
wool and linen together." (22:11)
According to Chasidut, wool and linen are symbolic of chesed and gevura,
the opposite attributes of loving-kindness and severity. When a Jew
observes a positive mitzva, a "do," he draws nearer to him
the object or thing with which he performs the mitzva. When he observes
one of the Torah's prohibitions, a "don't," he avoids something
that is forbidden and pushes it away. The mitzva of sha'atnez reminds
us that the two opposing thrusts mustn't be confused or combined: that
which is forbidden should be shunned, and that which is holy and positive
should be encouraged.
(The Rebbe, Elul 5744) (from L'chaim #684)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
MOSHIACH THIS WEEK
(M:49-65/Ki
Titzei)
When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the L-rd your
G-d will deliver him into your hand, and you have taken them captive
(Deut. 21:10)
These words refer to the descent of the soul, "a veritable part of
G-d Above," into the physical world. Its mission, enclothed within
a physical body, is to wage war and conquer the material world by infusing
it with holiness, learning Torah and observing its commandments. This
conflict will reach its successful conclusion with the coming of Moshiach,
when G-dliness will reign triumphant.
(Peninei Hageula)
[Reprinted with permission from L'Chaim Magazine (www.lchaim.org).]
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here) (W:49-65/Ki
Titzei)
This week's Torah portion, Ki Tetzei, is always read during the
beginning of the month of Elul, the month of repentance and good deeds
for the Jewish people. The Torah reading begins, "When you go out
to war against [literally 'on'] your enemies, and G-d your Lord will place
them into your hands, and you will take prisoners" (Deut. 21:10).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains, "When you go out…", means
if only we would truly go out and fight; "… your enemies"
- who are our enemies? The desires of our bodies and animal soul (which
connects us to this physical reality, as opposed to our G-dly soul which
connects us to the spiritual plane); "…And G-d your Lord will
put them into your hand", means you will most certainly, with G-d's
help, succeed and conquer them; Not only that, but, "…and you
will take prisoners", meaning you will even be able to take advantage
of the enormous strength of your animal soul and turn it towards holiness,
as the verse says, "There is much in the strength of an ox"
(Proverbs 14).
He goes on to point out that Rashi hints to us where we are supposed
to focus our efforts. Rashi writes, "The verse is speaking about
an optional war." When we are speaking from the perspective of a
person's spiritual growth during the month of Elul, what is a "mandatory
war" and what is an "optional war"? A mandatory war is
the directed efforts we make to bring the light of holiness to those parts
of our environment with which we are in regular, "obligatory",
contact (family, friends, and co-workers). An optional war is the process
of directing our efforts and trying to elevate the more peripheral zone
of our lives, our social life, what we do for entertainment, how we use
our spare time - the "extras".
When Rashi says that the verses here are speaking about an optional war,
he is really telling us that even the war on the optional portions of
our lives is a command and Torah obligation, as the first word of the
verse so clearly says, "When [not if] you go out to war…".
Additionally, we are guaranteed victory if we keep one condition: that
our war is "on your enemies", that you fight on - from above
- your enemies, using the strength of our G-dly soul, to conquer. It is
then that "…
G-d, your Lord, will place them into your hands".
The Lubavitcher Rebbe insists that if we had already completed all of
our work, Mashiach would be here already! In fact, everyone knows, on
a personal level, that the element of Mashiach in his or her own soul
has not yet arrived. So what should we do? Work harder not just on our
relations with G-d, but also with our fellow Jews; we must be especially
careful to treat each person in the best possible way, greeting each individual
positively. We learn this from the analogy that during Elul, the King
(G-d) is in the field, going out to meet even His most simple subjects.
If the King meets us with joy, how much more so is it required of each
of us to treat each of our neighbors with respect and kindness.
May it be G-d's will that even just the merit of discussing these things,
will enable Mashiach to come immediately. May each of us be signed and
sealed for a good and sweet year.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
P.S. Please also read my weekly Shabbat Law, below.)
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