Editor, Daveed Fakheri
Elul 11 , 5770
Aug. 21, 2010
* Rav Kook *
on the Weekly Parasha
* KI TETZEH *
READ
Every Act Is Significant
The reward of long life for the seemingly simple commandment of shooing away a mother bird before taking her young teaches us that no act is trivia
This parasha has the largest concentration of mitzvot (commandments) of any portion; 74 out of the traditional 613 commandments are found in it. Of all these commandments, one stands out. "If [walking] along the road, you chance upon a bird's nest . . . and the mother is sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young. Let the mother go and take only the young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life" (Deuteronomy 22:6).
Ki Tetze, a summary of the portion
Moses enumerates many laws that relate to topics of family relationships, interpersonal ethics
forbidden mixtures, and sexuality.
By Nancy Reuben
In continuing his last speech, Moses delivers specific rules on family relationships. "If a beautiful woman is taken captive in war, you may take her as your wife. However, you must wait a month before you take her, so that she may weep for her mother and her father. If you do not take pleasure in her, you must let her go as she wishes, and neither sell her for money, nor take advantage of her.
Haftarah for Ki Tetze, a summary of the haftarah
The haftarah selection is from Isaiah 54:1-10.
"In slight anger, for a moment,
I hid My face from you;
But with kindness everlasting
I will take you back in love
(Isaiah 54: 8)
This heartfelt promise from God to Israel represents the overall message of reconciliation conveyed in this week’s haftarah. One of the seven haftarot of consolation read between Tisha B'Av and Rosh Hashanah, this haftarah conveys a powerful, comforting message in a small number of verses.
NEWS
Some of US city's Jewish leaders concerned that public schools will not count Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur as official holidays this year
Students to feel pressure to attend classes
Month of Elul should be spent in deep introspection, intensive mindfulness helping us avoid making the same mistake twice, being more productive
Have a wonderful week
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