YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- D'varim
- Ki Tetze
Translated by Hillel Fendel
The scene is an IDF base somewhere in the Negev, featuring the last day of an intensive training course for new artillery cadets, including a hesder yeshiva soldier named Uziyah. The day began with each soldier practicing on his own, one at a time, on "dry" – that is, without real ammunition. For long and tiring hours under the hot sun, the soldiers run, direct their weapons again at the cardboard targets, yell, "Fire! Fire!", fall, jump up again, run, shoot - over and over and over.
Then comes the climax: The exercise is held on "wet." One after the other, the soldiers approach the commander, who guides each one through the exercise as they run and storm ahead and fire real bullets. Uziyah watches as the soldier before him roars battle cries and storms forward with full force towards the cardboard stands. He smiles to himself at his friend's battle-cries and over-enthusiasm. And then it's his turn. Uziyah lies down at the opening position, inserts a loaded magazine, and carefully aims his rifle at the targets. The commander touches his shoulder and asks, "OK, ready? You'll get them?"
Uziyah, the delicate yeshiva boy, answers characteristically, "I hope so, with G-d's help." The commander turns red with rage: "You HOPE!? There's a Hizbullah cell in front of you! You're gonna mow them down?! You'll fight the way you have to?!"
Suddenly, a different and new emotion surges inside Uziyah's heart. It is suddenly crystal clear to him that the way one behaves in yeshiva is not the same as when fighting a war. War requires forces of courage, daring and breaking out to strike at and smash the enemies of G-d and Israel. Uziyah finds himself roaring like his comrades before him, "I'll smash them, I'll get them, I'll mow them down!", jumping up like a tiger to storm the targets before him.
This week's portion is Ki Tetzei, "When you go out to war against your enemies…" Going to battle means "going out," leaving our regular routine and habits. The Torah educates us to gentle behavior, to making concessions, and certainly not to kill – under normal circumstances. But in wartime, killing Israel's enemies is a mitzvah, and requires one to become nearly a different person, one with great strength and aggressiveness. These are traits that can cause a person to lose the proper balance.
We know that when a child draws "out of the lines," it is often because he is drawing with abandon, without control – and this causes him to burst past the boundaries. This is what is required, on a much large scale, in wartime – but the danger then arises that he will "burst the boundaries" in other areas as well. He may be more prone to sinning with women, for instance, for he is in a state of releasing his powerful life forces.
And this is why this Torah portion begins with, "When you go out to war… and see a beautiful woman in captivity." The Torah does not require the soldier in this situation to stifle his urges, but rather to direct them in a positive direction. He is permitted to take this woman - but only with several restrictions, including not touching her until a full month has passed and he marries her properly. The Torah, in this case, addresses itself to the soldier's negative urges, and requires that they be channeled correctly.
The Torah teaches us to develop strengths and forces for wartime - and then not to let them run wild with no restrictions.
We learn other important lessons as well from this unique chapter. For one thing, the ethics of war are not the same as those of peacetime. This is particularly important nowadays, when there are those who unfortunately seek to apply regular moral standards to the unique situation of wartime. Such an approach of "being merciful to the cruel" leads, in the end, to "being cruel to the merciful," as our Sages teach, and to the loss of innocent lives on the Jewish side.
Secondly, a Jew must serve G-d at all times, in the specific manner appropriate for each situation. Just as we blow the shofar on Rosh HaShanah and sit in a Sukkah on Sukkot, and certainly not the opposite, so too regarding our character traits: We must always seek out the proper mode of behavior for each setting.
May we merit during this month of Elul to succeed in directing our life forces in the most appropriate manner, so as to serve G-d the best way possible.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
The scene is an IDF base somewhere in the Negev, featuring the last day of an intensive training course for new artillery cadets, including a hesder yeshiva soldier named Uziyah. The day began with each soldier practicing on his own, one at a time, on "dry" – that is, without real ammunition. For long and tiring hours under the hot sun, the soldiers run, direct their weapons again at the cardboard targets, yell, "Fire! Fire!", fall, jump up again, run, shoot - over and over and over.
Then comes the climax: The exercise is held on "wet." One after the other, the soldiers approach the commander, who guides each one through the exercise as they run and storm ahead and fire real bullets. Uziyah watches as the soldier before him roars battle cries and storms forward with full force towards the cardboard stands. He smiles to himself at his friend's battle-cries and over-enthusiasm. And then it's his turn. Uziyah lies down at the opening position, inserts a loaded magazine, and carefully aims his rifle at the targets. The commander touches his shoulder and asks, "OK, ready? You'll get them?"
Uziyah, the delicate yeshiva boy, answers characteristically, "I hope so, with G-d's help." The commander turns red with rage: "You HOPE!? There's a Hizbullah cell in front of you! You're gonna mow them down?! You'll fight the way you have to?!"
Suddenly, a different and new emotion surges inside Uziyah's heart. It is suddenly crystal clear to him that the way one behaves in yeshiva is not the same as when fighting a war. War requires forces of courage, daring and breaking out to strike at and smash the enemies of G-d and Israel. Uziyah finds himself roaring like his comrades before him, "I'll smash them, I'll get them, I'll mow them down!", jumping up like a tiger to storm the targets before him.
This week's portion is Ki Tetzei, "When you go out to war against your enemies…" Going to battle means "going out," leaving our regular routine and habits. The Torah educates us to gentle behavior, to making concessions, and certainly not to kill – under normal circumstances. But in wartime, killing Israel's enemies is a mitzvah, and requires one to become nearly a different person, one with great strength and aggressiveness. These are traits that can cause a person to lose the proper balance.
We know that when a child draws "out of the lines," it is often because he is drawing with abandon, without control – and this causes him to burst past the boundaries. This is what is required, on a much large scale, in wartime – but the danger then arises that he will "burst the boundaries" in other areas as well. He may be more prone to sinning with women, for instance, for he is in a state of releasing his powerful life forces.
And this is why this Torah portion begins with, "When you go out to war… and see a beautiful woman in captivity." The Torah does not require the soldier in this situation to stifle his urges, but rather to direct them in a positive direction. He is permitted to take this woman - but only with several restrictions, including not touching her until a full month has passed and he marries her properly. The Torah, in this case, addresses itself to the soldier's negative urges, and requires that they be channeled correctly.
The Torah teaches us to develop strengths and forces for wartime - and then not to let them run wild with no restrictions.
We learn other important lessons as well from this unique chapter. For one thing, the ethics of war are not the same as those of peacetime. This is particularly important nowadays, when there are those who unfortunately seek to apply regular moral standards to the unique situation of wartime. Such an approach of "being merciful to the cruel" leads, in the end, to "being cruel to the merciful," as our Sages teach, and to the loss of innocent lives on the Jewish side.
Secondly, a Jew must serve G-d at all times, in the specific manner appropriate for each situation. Just as we blow the shofar on Rosh HaShanah and sit in a Sukkah on Sukkot, and certainly not the opposite, so too regarding our character traits: We must always seek out the proper mode of behavior for each setting.
May we merit during this month of Elul to succeed in directing our life forces in the most appropriate manner, so as to serve G-d the best way possible.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
Ki Tetze FALSE MORALITY IS IMMORALITY
Why R. Yosef Blau & American Jewish Liberals' Critique Misses the Mark
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
