Key Points in Parshat Ki Tetze Ephriam Meth

• Battles: One may capture a gentile woman in battle, convert her, and marry her. Soldiers should distance themselves from the camp when performing excretory functions. Einayim L’ • : Workers should receive their wages within 12 hours of rendered services. Economics 500 W. 185th Street Courts should not favor anyone based on their social status. New York, NY 10033 • : We must remember that Amalek attacked us when we left Egypt. We must Memories www.einayim.org September 16, 2005 Volume 20, Number 2 remember that Miriam was punished for speaking Lashon Hara and thereby refrain from [email protected] 12 Elul 5765 Parshat Ki Tetze speaking it. • Miscellaneous: Send away the mother bird before capturing its young. Build a fence on your Editors In Chief Beauty and a Beast? ContemporaryHashkafic roof. Wear Tsitsit, not mixtures of wool and linen. You are liable to pay a monetary compen- Pinchas Friedman Joshua Cheifetz ThoughtHalacha sation to a person whom you embarrass. n the opening portion of Yerushalmi) maintain that the halacha is the Rambam’s strik- Yehuda Brand The Jewish People Parshat Ki Tetze, the Torah soldier must wait until after the ing definition of a soldier’s role • : Converts from Amon and Moav may not marry . Adulterers are put to death. I Pedigree Executive Editors appears to surrender its values woman has converted and the (ibid. 7:15): “And as [the sol- and Time A remarried divorcee may never return to her first husband. A man has a responsibility to Zev Koller in a striking concession to two have been properly wed. dier] engages in battle, he Rabbi Yonah Levant either perform levirate (Yibbum) on his brother’s childless widow or release her human nature. Soldiers fighting should know that he is waging Right after Moshe warns Dovid Skversky The Rambam, however, explic- (Chalitsa) so that she may remarry. in the ranks of Bnei Yisrael are war for the sake of yichud Pharaoh that Hashem will bring Literary Editors permitted to marry, with certain Hashem…and he should not Makkas Bechoros, the Torah “And as [the relays the rules and regulations Eitan Bitter stipulations, non-Jewish prison- think of his wife and chil- of the Korban Pesach - the ers of war. According to the soldier] dren…and he should turn his Sruli Ginsberg paschal lamb sacrifice. Its Gemara (Bavli Kiddushin 21b), engages in attention from everything to instructions are preceded by Yigal Gross the Torah grants such latitude [concentrate on] the war…and the verse Hachodesh hazeh Yosef Lindell only as the better of two evils. battle, he [he should feel] that the blood lochem rosh chodoshim, rishon In other words, the Torah of the entire Jewish people is on hu lochem lichodshay should know 1 Business Affairs prefers the option of marriage his throat. Following this Hashanah - This month shall ROYAL DRAGON that he is be for you the beginning of the 4832 Boiling Brook Parkway Benjamin Fakheri to the possibility that warriors, charge to the soldier, the Rockville, MD 20852 months, it shall be for you the (301) 468-1922 Yoni Noble overcome by the trauma of bat- waging war for Rambam states that troops, first of the months of the year. 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The next sion on the battlefield (Hilchot notes, this mitzvah of Kiddush Graphic Content the Ramban (based on a Melachim 8:2). Preceding this halacha in the Rambam is that ATTENTION YU STUDENTS: Hachodesh is the first mitzvah 646.387.8573 continued on page 3 of the Torah. Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch notes that by Want Einayim in your shul? virtue of being the first mitzvah Shul or Administrators Fences Table please email us at Avi Strauss Torah continued on page 2 [email protected] n perek 22, passuk 8, the Torah man- Artscroll translation renders it, “to encum- any other mitzvoth for that matter, as Looking for a dates the construction of a ma’akeh I ber or oppress”) seems downright misrep- incompatible in any way. Even if mitzvoth If you are interested in around the roof of one’s home. Given that resentative of the ma’akeh’s true purpose. sometimes seem to restrict our own pas- the ma’akeh protects against possibly fatal sponsoring or advertising in How can we understand Rashbam’s trans- sions and desires, we must realize that all accidents, Onkelos understandably trans- an issue of Einayim L’Torah lation of ma’akeh? Chavrusa? please email us at mitzvoth ultimately serve to enrich our lates the word as a type of receptacle that [email protected] secures its contents. However, Rashbam’s Most simply, we can understand that lives and protect us against whatever claim that the word is derived from a verb Rashbam doesn’t consider the restrictive obstacles might stand in the way of our that means to cause pain (or as the and protective features of the ma’akeh, or avodas Hashem. N EW YORK C ITY S HABBAT T IMES Candles Dawn Sunrise Shema (Gra) Shema (MA) Tefilla (Gra) Tefila (MA) Chatzot Mincha Ged. Shkia Havdala WWW.YUCHAVRUSAS.ORG 6:45 P.M. 5:26 A.M. 6:38 AM. 9:44 A.M. 9:08 A.M. 10:46 A.M. 10:22 A.M. 12:50 P.M. 1:21 PM. 7:01 P.M. 7:42 P.M. EINAYIM L’TORAH • 4 PARSHAT KI TETZE This issue is sponsored by Dovid Skversky in honor of the recent marriage of Benji and Jen Jacobs. Mazal Tov! vhv, ohn, The Jewish People and Time continued from page 1 An “Assembly of G-d” An “Assembly of G-d” continued from page 2 we were commanded, Kiddush Days, and consequently they Kiddushin is derived from the word tution of Heqdesh elevates an object as 1 However, they are all able to marry converts. Moster Hachodesh is also the founda- decide when Hashem will sit in 3 Heqdesh - “consecrated to the Temple.” belonging to G-d, the institution of mar- 2 This is only if his disability was haphazard and The institution of marriage is is it about marriage, and specif- tion for all other mitzvos . Rav judgment of His people. In the not natural. This excludes a person who is disabled described in a mere five words ically not marrying these Hirsch cites Tiku bachodesh dramatic description of the Just as the act of consecrating forbids an riage has the ability to elevate us to as the result of an illness or birth defect. (Rambam, …ki chok liyisroel hu, medrash, Hashem waits until object’s use, the act of marriage forbids become an “Assembly of G-d”. May it be in the Torah: ki yikach ish isha groups of people, that gives Hilchos Issurei Biah 15). uvealah - “when a man takes the stature of K’hal mishpat laylokay Yakov - Blow the Beis Din on earth declares one’s spouse to others. However, there Hashem’s will that by combining both the the shofar at the moon’s renew- , and only then 3 They may be accepted into the Khal Hashem wife and lives with her” Hashem? may be yet another reason why marriage is spiritual and physical, we achieve the al…Because it is a decree for He instructs His heavenly court upon the passing of three generations after their (Deuteronomy 24:1). The Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch Israel, a judgment [day] for the to begin - or postpone - the correlated with Heqdesh. Just as the insti- revered status of a K’hal Hashem. conversion. 9 Torah does not provide any believes that the first two cate- G-d of (Tehillim 81), judgment of all living beings . further detail about how the which Chazal understand as The nation commanded to be gories are banned because 4 referring to Rosh Hashanah , holy is enlisted by Hashem to Beauty and a Beast? continued from page 1 act of marriage is performed “they are a contradiction to the and all Roshei Chodashim in become a fountain-source of or what its purpose is. To find 5 mentioned above, which permits a soldier’s course, the parallelism between the war- hora? The Mesillat Yeshorim (Ch. 5) pro- physical and moral elements general . Rosh Chodesh holiness. Israel brings the holi- its purpose, one must look to which constitute the very reminds us of our responsibili- ness of the Yomim Tovim into liaison with a captive woman “if his desire rior’s waiting period and the month of Elul vides an explanation: “The evil inclination an earlier portion in Parshat nature of marriage.” Marriage ties. Hashem is our Judge; our reality. Sfas Emes explains that overpowers him.” is obvious-both are times during which is in truth very strong within man, and Ki Tetze where the Torah tells is neither a completely physical glorious status implied by the via Kiddush Hachodesh, time As emerges from the Rambam’s charge to there is an intensified struggle with the without man’s awareness, it overpowers and name Yisroel6 will only be true itself - mundane, aloof and yeitzer hora. But how does the eigel ha’za- us whom we are not allowed nor completely spiritual bond; the soldier, the Rambam seems primarily masters him…But if he occupies himself to marry. when we are faithful to mishpat intangible - is sanctified. hav enter this equation? it is a meshing of both. By ban- Elokay Yakov. Rav Hirsch thus concerned that a soldier concentrate on with the study of Torah, on understanding This is what the Yivanim intend- While the yeitzer hora strives to distance The Torah charges us with ning the Mamzer, the Torah sees Rosh Chodesh as alluding ed to crush when they included fighting his battles. The Torah suspends its its ways, its commands, and its admoni- to the supernatural dynamic of dietary laws to minimize the distraction us from G-d, Chodesh Elul is designed to maintaining a emphasizes Kiddush Hachodesh among tions, a spiritual awakening will ultimately K’hal Hashem, the indispen- reward and punishment - a their decrees against Shabbos that would accompany a search for kosher bring us back into an intimate relationship stir within him and set him on the proper a nation of sable need for foundation, indeed, of all and Bris Milah. Sfas Emes food. Similarly, aishet yefat toar is not a with Hashem-Ani l’dodi v’dodi li. The sin of mitzvos. path.” households What is it morality and explains that this is the refer- sanction on the part of the Torah for a lust- the Golden Calf was an act of infidelity Tehillim 81 continues with a ence in the Yivanim’s enigmatic which is fit to spiritual ful affair, but rather a means of keeping the and betrayal on the part of Am Yisrael, Based on an explanation from the Rav zt”l, about description of the elevation of command to the Jews: Kisvu al who had just ‘married’ Hashem at Har be called an growth in a Yosef from prisoner to viceroy, keren shor she-ane lochem troops focused on waging the war and not there may be another reason for the Torah’s marriage, and 10 “Assembly of marriage rela- which occurred on Rosh chelek biElokay Yisroel - allowing them to become distracted by a Sinai. Elul provided a window of opportu- combative power. The Rav once devoted a 7 nity for Moshe to seek forgiveness for the G-d.” We are specifically not tionship. But Hashanah , the first Rosh Write upon the ox horn that you beautiful captive. Yahrzeit Shiur to developing the thesis that to accomplish marrying these that’s still not Chodesh of the new year. have no share in the G-d of eigel and a restoration of our previous rela- Hasirosi misevel shichmoh … Israel. It was the share, the The offers a very different approach the study of Torah, in addition to prayer, this K’hal groups of enough. By tionship with Hashem. batsarah karasa vaachaltsekah partnership with Elokay Yisroel to the concept of yefat toar. Let us begin We, too, utilize prayer during Elul (and all may be used to achieve d’veikut, closeness Hashem by excluding the people, that - I removed his shoulder from in creating holiness, which they with the thirty-day waiting period. One year) to ask Hashem for forgiveness. But to G-d. As noted above, the yeitzer hora’s abstaining physically dis- the burden…in distress you sought to deny. gives Israel the explanation of why the Jewish soldier must have we any other weapon at our disposal raison d’être is to distance us from from marrying abled man, the called out and I released you. wait before converting and marrying this Thus, every Rosh Chodesh we in the war against the yeitzer hora? For the Hashem. Torah, which draws us members of stature of Torah declares 1 Shemos 12:2 captive is so that his desire for her may are promised that if we turn to answer, we turn once again to the Zohar, closer to Hashem, is therefore a most effec- the following K’hal Hashem? that the off- 2 Rashi, ibid. Hashem in repentance, clinging wane. It is hoped that he will lose interest which states (Zohar Chadash, Ki Tetze, 1 tive means of foiling the designs of the four groups : spring that to mishpat Elokay Yakov, He will 3 Sefer BiMaagalei Hashanah I, on account of her weeping, shorn hair, long page 94 58b): “‘When you go out to war against (A) the result from turn to us with “I released you. I yeitzer hora. Let us hope and pray that our nails, and plain garb. According to the your enemy’-this is the yeitzer hora, against Petsuah Daqa or Charut the physical relationship answered when you called pri- 4 Rosh Hashanah 8b tefilla and talmud Torah this Elul and 5 Rosh Hashanah 25b Tosfos s.v Zohar, this waiting period corresponds to which we must go out with words of Torah Shafkha, a man with a crushed between a husband and wife is vately with a thunderous reply.” throughout the coming year will enable us Hashem is awaiting our return Eimas the month of Elul: “This is the month of to attack it, and thus will it surrender to or mutilated member2, (B) an essential aspect as well. It is to Him: “If only My people 6 “You have striven with the Divine Elul during which Moshe ascended the man, as it is said, ‘And the L-rd, your G-d, to attain ‘Kirvat Elokim’ and a K’tivah Mamzer, a child born of an the successful combination of would heed Me, if Israel would and with man and have overcome.” mountain to ask for mercy before G-d that will deliver him into your hand, and you V’chatimah Tovah. adulterous or incestuous union, both the spiritual and physical walk in My ways...” The reward (Breishis 32:29) Yisroel is upright and upfront, the name of honor and he forgive Israel for the [Golden] Calf.” will take him captive.’” (C) males of the Ammonite or that enables Klal Yisrael to of living up to Hashem’s sum- pride, in contrast with the name What is the connection between Elul, the Why does the Zohar single out Torah as This d’var torah was taken from the Einayim Moabite nations, and (D) the reach the dignified status of a mons is the ultimate - “In an Yakov, meaning ‘heel.’ “Is it because Golden Calf, and the aishet yefat toar? Of the weapon of choice in fighting the yeitzer L’Torah archives. Edomites and Egyptians3 K’hal Hashem. instant I would subdue their his name was called Yakov that he foes…[Israel’s] time would be outwitted me these two (Deuteronomy 23:2-10). Thus, Based on this idea, one can forever.” Judgment and teshu- times?”(Breishis 27:36) Yakov is the we learn from these verses that now have a deeper understand- vah herald geulah. name of the Jew in his golus state, a significant reason for mar- 8 needing to duck and dodge to avoid ing as to why our sages chose to Sfas Emes sees within Kiddush the murderous Esavs of the world. riage is to achieve the level of Hachodesh a different demon- call marriage “Kiddushin”. The 7 Rosh Hashanah 10b an “Assembly of G-d”. The Talmud (Bavli Kiddushin 2b) stration of the cosmic reverber- ations of Israel’s actions. Since 8 Channukah 5636 question begs to be asked: what 9 Yalkut Bo, 190 explains that the term the Jewish people set the calen- [email protected] dar, they determine the Holy 10 Yerushalmi Chagigah 2:2 Your Ad Here continued on page 3 EINAYIM L’TORAH • 2 PARSHAT KI TETZE • 3