Ki Seitzei – Peninim on the Torah

“That he happened upon you on the way.” (25:18)

The pasuk seems to be addressing the nation as a whole. Why then does it switch to karcha, “it happened upon you,” in the singular? Horav Eliezer Elyakim Schlesinger, Shlita, explains that the Torah is teaching us a fundamental principle. He cites the Brisker Rav, z.l., who interprets the pasuk: “I quarrel with those who rise up against You!… I regard them as my own enemies” (Tehillim 139:21,22), in which David Hamelech is saying that Hashem’s enemies are his personal enemies. Anyone who rebels against Hashem cannot be David Ha’melech’s friend. Likewise, we are admonished here to view Amalek’s evil as…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5762

“If a man marries a woman… and it will be that she will not find favor in his eyes, for he found in her a matter of immorality, and he wrote her a bill of divorce.” (24:1)

According to the flow of the text, it is implied that she lost favor in his eyes and, therefore, he divorces her. Rashi adds that he should divorce her because of her immoral conduct. Even if he does not have witnesses to prove his allegations to the satisfaction of the court, the fact that she is guilty of immoral conduct should be reason enough for her to lose favor in his eyes. Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, z.l., derives an important lesson from Rashi. We are under the impression that “favor” is not dependent upon a person’s moral posture. If he is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5762

“This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not hearken to our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.” (21:20)

The ben sorer u’moreh, rebellious son, does not listen to his parents. Clearly, this is a reason to bring him to Bais Din. He is also a glutton and a drunkard. While this is certainly not complimentary, is it a reason to be put to death at such a young age? Horav Mordechai Ezrachi, Shlita, cites Horav Nachum Zev, z.l., m’Kelm who commented on Rav’s statement in the Talmud Berachos 17a. Chazal say, Maryela b’pumei d’Rav, “It was a familiar lesson in the mouth of Rav. The World to Come is not like this world. In the World to Come there…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5762

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

The law regarding the ben sorer u’moreh, wayward and rebellious son, is a difficult one to understand. Just because the boy devours a sizeable amount of meat and guzzles too much wine, does that make him guilty of a capital punishment? He is punished, however, because of what he will eventually do. Let him therefore be put to death now before he commits a serious crime. This is not a law that can be adjudicated by Bais Din, the earthly court system. The law of the ben sorer is from Hashem, who knows what this boy’s future will bring. The law,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Seitzei, 5762

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

The incident of the ben sorer u’moreh, wayward and rebellious son, is one of the most serious tragedies related in the Torah. A boy who rejects his parents and everything they have taught him, a boy who rejects everything his parents stand for, truly represents a tragedy of unparalleled proportion. Being a Jewish parent is an awesome responsibility. Parents are the link between the Jewish generations that precede us and those who will follow in the future. Ours is the privilege to maintain the faith of the past, to give meaning and value to the present, and to ensure that there…

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“That he happened upon you on the way.” (25:18)

“If a man marries a woman… and it will be that she will not find favor in his eyes, for he found in her a matter of immorality, and he wrote her a bill of divorce.” (24:1)

“This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not hearken to our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.” (21:20)

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

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

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