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Home -> 5760 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Seitzei, 5760

“And you will see among its captivity a woman who is beautiful of form, and you will desire her, you may take her to yourself for a wife.” (21:11)

The Torah recognizes that war wreaks havoc on a person’s emotions. The anxiety and breakdown of normal life leaves a person in an unusually depressed state, emotionally fragile and susceptible to the blandishments of the yetzer hara, evil-inclination. Under such conditions, the Jewish soldier might defer to his base desires. Upon seeing a woman among the enemy, he might feel an uncontrollable desire for her. Rather than risk sin that may lead to further spiritual pollution, the Torah provides an outlet for the lustful soldier. There is a process that the female captive must undergo, after which he may marry…

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Home -> 5760 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Seitzei, 5760

“He is unable to give the right of the firstborn to the son of the beloved one ahead of the son of the hated one, who is the firstborn.” (21:16)

The firstborn has an inviolable right to his share of his father’s inheritance. The Torah is teaching us that rivalries or animosities do not determine the laws of inheritance. There is a clearly defined halachah that the firstborn receive a double portion of his father’s inheritance. The fact that his father harbors a hatred for his mother does not give him license to deprive his firstborn son of his rightful share. In forbidding the father to give over a firstborn’s rights, the Torah uses a puzzling term. It says, lo yuchal, “He is unable to do so.” Why is the…

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Home -> 5760 -> Ki Seitzei

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Ki Seitzei, 5760

“Do not plow with an ox and a donkey together.” (22:10)

Being sensitive to the feelings of another human being is a requisite for defining mentchlichkeit, humanness. While many of us go out of our way to be kind and thoughtful when it affects the feelings of a prominent individual, we often ignore the sensitivities of a common person. The Torah provides us with a penetrating insight regarding this inappropriate practice. We are adjured not to plow with an ox and a donkey together. Although the Torah does not suggest a reason, the Daas Zekeinim explains that these two animals have two diverse habits for digesting their food. Because an ox…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

When you will go out to war…and you will see among its captivity a woman who is beautiful of form, and you will desire her, you may take her to yourself for a wife. (21:10,11)

The Torah offers a release for the Jewish soldier who is far away from his home and under the strain of battle. It provides a contingency for the soldier who,  in constant fear for his life, gives in to an uncontrollable desire for a beautiful captive.  The soldier may marry her after she has undergone a specific  process.   Knowing that she will be permitted to him later may encourage him to  refrain from any inappropriate advances now.  While this is a special dispensation, it still should be regarded as inappropriate and even sinful.  Indeed, Chazal attribute the character of…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

If a man will have a wayward and rebellious son. (21:18)

Thus,   one of the saddest situations in halachah begins.  Parents attempt to raise a child, hoping that they are doing the “right job.” Unfortunately, this boy exhibts behavior for which the death penalty is imposed upon him.  While this boy has not done anything yet that would warrant execution, Chazal say, “Let him die while he is innocent, and let him not die when he eventually becomes guilty of a capitol crime.”  Halachah imposes so many requirements before a boy may be deemed a ben sorer u’moreh that it is virtually impossible for it to occur.  Chazal have, therefore,…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

This son of ours is disobedient and rebellious; he does not listen to our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.

The Torah deems the ben sorer u’moreh to be  incorrigible. Consequently, he  is put to death for his intractable behavior.  What has he done that is so bad,  that it is  considered to be incorrigible?  In his initimable style, Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl,  analyzes the laws of ben sorer u’moreh as a primer for parents to learn valuable lessons in child-rearing.  He defines “sorer” as turning away, implying a persistent straying from the prescribed path he is to follow.  “Moreh,” on the other hand, is a stronger,  more aggressive term which implies a self-willed personality.  An individual with this personality…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

You shall surely take away the mother and take the young for yourself. (22:7)

The mitzvah of Shiluach Ha’kein implies many lessons.  The Rambam suggests that  this mitzvah teaches us to demonstrate  kindness and consideration to animals.  If our search for food requires us to kill an animal, we must do it  in the most humane and painless manner.  The halachah distinguishes between a bird that is presently resting on her nest, protecting her young, and one that was sent away.  We are forbidden to touch the mother that rests on her young.  Horav Chaim Ehrentrau, zl, cites the Rambam as the basis for understanding this law.  We are not permitted to take advantage…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

There will be a holy anointing oil to Me for your generations. (30:31)

Chazal derive from this pasuk that the oil which Moshe made was destined to last forever.  Indeed,  this same oil will be used when the Bais Hamikdash is rebuilt.  Although this oil was used many times throughout the generations, it has remained intact to the very last drop.   Hashem clearly chose to perform such a miracle with the Shemen Ha’Mishchah, anointing oil, for an important reason. It certainly could not have been simply because it was Moshe’s oil that it was considered to be so special.  If that would have been the case, Hashem would simply have commanded  Moshe…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

The people sat to eat and drink, and they got up to revel. (32:6)

The creation of the Golden Calf was  a grave sin.  It was compounded when the Bnei Yisrael rose to revel.  Rashi explains the word “l’tzachek,” “to have fun,” to revel, as implying a complete degeneration on their part.  Their behavior became wanton.  In addition to the idolatry of the Golden Calf, they committed various  immoral acts. These acts even included murder, when they killed Chur as he attempted to dissuade them from serving the Golden Calf.  Horav Eliyahu Meier Bloch, zl, observes that not all errors in philosophy are critical ones.  It is still possible for an individual to modify…

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Home -> 5758 -> Ki Seitzei

Moshe Marcovich
In Ki Seitzei, 5758

Moshe stood at the gateway of the camp and said, ‘Whoever is for Hashem, join me!’ And all the Levi’im gathered around him. (32:26)

Moshe explained to the Jews that  they would have to take a stand.  They could not claim to be servants of Hashem while still professing allegiance to the Golden Calf.  Moshe cried out, “Mi l’Hashem eilai!”, “Whoever is for Hashem, join me!”  Shevet Levi  came forward.  They were the only ones who had the courage to take a stand, to make a total commitment to the Almighty.  Chazal question the poor response to Moshe’s challenge.  Who would not come forward  to swear allegiance to Hashem?  Chazal seek  to redefine Moshe’s question.  He asked, “Who was there that did not contribute…

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