Ki Tetze – Once Upon a Week

Read the transcript below, or watch a video of the teaching by Yehuda Bachana.

This Torah portion provides a very rich content, that incorporates a wide variety of commandments, from completely different areas of life. From the laws of war, the law of sending away the mother bird, and the law of the guard rail on the roof.

Then, Moses continues with marital relationships and kidnapping people. After which the well-known commandment follows:

This commandment is very beautiful and important, and says we should not prevent an animal from eating and enjoying the fruits of its labor. Meaning: the ox working the field, deserves to eat from that field. It is clear that this verse mentions the ox merely as an example. And even if this verse would concern the wellbeing of animals; how much more, should we care for people.

We are forbidden from preventing a person to enjoy the fruits of his work.

Finally, this Torah portion ends with the command to erase the memory of Amalek:

Our Torah portion begins with the words:

and continues with the deep connection between war, (which is violent), to lust (which destroys family relationships). It begins with a story about a brave Israeli soldier. Our soldier returns home from the war with plunder and loot, part of this loot it is in the shape of a beautiful woman.

Our sages already said that:

The Commentators connect these two passages together, as a story that is made up of three parts.The first part tells us that the soldier brought home a beautiful, new wife.The second part says:

And so, that man maybe loved his new wife more; yet, both women have children. the firstborn was the son of the wife he loved less, the first one; nevertheless, the Torah commands us to observe the inheritance laws, and to respect the firstborn.

The third part of our story is about a child who was born into this family mess. He becomes:

Meaning, every decision and every deed causes a certain reaction. Our sages already interpreted this passage and decided:

Let’s return to the second part of our trilogy that deals with property division and inheritance laws. We discover that the Torah has a sense of justice, and therefore intervenes in our personal affairs, by preventing injustice and choices based on personal preference. One has the responsibility to be fair, by giving the eldest son what he deserves; regardless, whether he is the son of the favorite wife, or not…

In the New Testament, Yeshua tells a parable of a stubborn and rebellious son who was being influenced negatively. He wasted his entire inheritance. This parable can be found in Luke 15. In this parable, Yeshua talks about two sons.

The youngest, Like in the interpretation of the stubborn and rebellious son of our Torah portion, and he asked his father to divide the inheritance, because he wanted his share.

The youngest son took his share and went to a distant country, where he wasted all his money on gluttony and drinking. Yeshua uses a definition from this Torah portion:

But, in contrast to the bitter end in this week’s portion, Yeshua’s parable says: “There is hope!” Just like the shoemaker in the famous story, who says:

The stubborn and rebellious son returns home; even though, he is ashamed and penniless. Nonetheless, his father welcomes him with open arms and throws a great and splendid party in his honor. This symbolizes the great joy when a sinner repents.

The background of this parable is based on the complaints against Yeshua, who often spent time sitting and talking with sinners. People complained to Yeshua, asking why He would waste His precious time on sinners. Wouldn’t it be better to teach the wise students, who actually wanted to study His pearls of wisdom?

Although, there is some truth to this thought; however, part of our social responsibility means reaching out to everyone, including the stubborn and rebellious son. There is even hope for those children. They, too, have a Father, who welcomes them with open arms and great love.

The same chapter in the New Testament contains two additional parables, that also describe the great joy in heaven, for every sinner who repents.

As a matter of fact, the father in our parable represents God, who does not ‘close the book’ on the youngest son. That son repents later on, and Yeshua’s teaches us in a variety of parables (including this one), that a person is always welcome to return back home to God.

Unlike the father, the eldest son finds it difficult to accept his rebellious younger brother. The firstborn son could symbolize many things, like Israel and the Jews (for example), whom the Bible in many verses refers to as

The eldest son could also symbolize the righteous, who faithfully walk in God’s ways.However, in the end, all of us (some more and some less), are bothered by the fact that repentance always leads to forgiveness.

Our sense of justice tells us that that is not fair. How could it be, that the brother who was foolish, and who wasted all of his possessions on an immoral life, returns later on completely penniless; and yet, he will still receive the same treatment as his brother, who continued to work diligently at the family farm.

The eldest son obeyed his father’s commandments - his rules - and lived modestly. Most unlike the younger brother who lived a wasteful life in the big city.That does not add up, according to our sense of justice.

One of the main points in the parable of Yeshua, is that justice without mercy, is not a proper measurement for our human weaknesses. Every person, with their own personal circumstances, needs grace beyond the letter of the law. We all walk blindly in the dark: nobody knows exactly where we are headed in this very moment, and so we all stray from the right path. We can only be saved by the grace of God, though the blood of Yeshua, who knows our weaknesses and our lack in wisdom.

Yeshua concludes this parable in an interesting, and also a righteous way:

“My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31)

Yeshua promises the inheritance to those that are faithful, and who keep His commandments. However, alongside this promise, we should rejoice when our brothers repent and return home.

As believers in Yeshua, we know that we’re all in the same boat, together with the sinners; truly, without the blood of Yeshua, who leads us to the safe shore, we would all drown together.

After the discussion about the stubborn, rebellious son, our Torah portion continues with the commandment not to ignore the lost property of our neighbors. Then follows the commandment to send away the mother bird. There is a long and undecided debate about the purpose of this commandment, and the logic behind it.

Some say, that we should not look for the purpose of the commandments, but we should just accept them as a supreme order from God. He is all-knowing and He is the Lord of all; whereas, we do not know, and we don’t have to know everything, as we do not see the full picture. And as a matter of fact, observing the commandments, shows the depth of our faith and our obedience to God; especially, when the reason for the commandment is unclear.

On the other hand, there are those who try to understand the purpose of the commandments, in order to truly understand them and to observe them with joy. Understanding the purpose also enables us to possibly renew commandments, at a moment in history when the original setting is no longer relevant.

Let’s take the commandment of tithing, for example. This commandment was intended to support the priests and Levites, who did not receive an inheritance of the Land, and therefore could not earn a living. That is the reason, why the People of Israel were commanded to tithe. Today, we do not have a Temple, nor functioning Priests or Levites. And so, we, as believers have renewed the meaning of this commandment; which is why, nowadays, we bring our tithes to the House of God, to our house of worship.

As a believer, I see great importance in searching for the ‘spirit’ of the commandments. This understanding will help us to better fulfill the will of God. In my opinion, Yeshua teaches the importance of understanding the spirit of the commandments, so we can fulfil God's Word with joy.

I think that this is the same spirit that motivates our rabbis. This week’s Torah portion requires us to return lost property to its rightful owner. Let’s take a look at the following example:

We can stick to the literal meaning of the commandment, meaning: in case we find something, we are to keep it until the true owner comes to claim it. However, in the spirit of this commandment, which our rabbis understood, we are required to do much more, and actively search for the true owner, in order to return their lost possession.

According to Judaism, we have to do even more than that. Let’s take a look at the following Halachic statement:

As believers and God-fearing people, we can see the great depth, even in such a simple commandment concerning the return of lost possessions. The spirit of this commandment, does not only relate to the return of what was lost, as, according to the commonly accepted interpretation, we need to stop a loss before it even happens.

The examples are like when we see a flooding, or when a river rises beyond its banks, we should help, if we can; otherwise, there will be a loss:the field will get destroyed by the flood, along with the harvest and the future income.Or the house - and whatever is inside - would get damaged and lost.

Today this goes for anything that belongs to those around us: like a cellphone that someone forgot on the roof of their car, before they drive off, and we can prevent before it gets lost.

The spirit of this commandment requires us to prevent such a loss, preferably even, before it would happen, and not to wait till after it happens, but to prevent if possible.

Another example that shows the importance of searching the spirit of the commandment, is the law of sending away the mother bird:

This commandment could be understood in such a way, that every time we come across a bird nest, we should let the mother bird go, and take her eggs.

So then, there are those, who actively search for bird nests, in order to fulfill this commandment. They actually look for nests, so they can send away the mother bird and take her eggs (after which they destroy the eggs). Some, even make nests, in order to perform this commandment.

Nonetheless, the purpose of this commandment is animal welfare. And so, if we want to eat eggs, we are not allowed to take them while the mother bird is there.

There are several reasons behind this thought. Firstly, not to endanger the species. Surely, we should prevent harming the balance of nature.

Secondly, so we won’t become ruthless. If we are merciful towards animals; how much more, should we be merciful to people.

My understanding of this commandment is, that the Torah requires us to be sensitive and considerate of our surroundings. The commandment of sending away the mother bird, will be rewarded with a long life:

According to a Talmudic story, the law of sending away a mother bird, is the reason, why Elisha ben Abuya became a heretic. The story tells about Elisha who saw a father, who told his son to climb a tree, in order to fulfill the commandment of sending away a mother bird. The child obeyed his father, and climbed a high tree. Then he lost his balance, fell down and died.

The Torah clearly states that, the commandment of

, are both rewarded with a long life.In reaction to the tragic event, Elisha became a heretic. He asked:

However, the Torah also requires us to be careful and mindful of our surroundings, and the danger that might be around us. It is interesting to notice, that the following commandment in this Torah portion, concerns making a guard rail for the roof:

Meaning, that being careful is important, and dangers must not be disregarded. We should build a guard rail to protect from a dangerous fall.

Here as well, it is important to understand that the guard rail is just an example. The Torah requires us to limit risks and to avoid injuries.

In its original meaning, this verse speaks against idolatry, or, against making an image or statue of God. Over time, we gave this commandment an additional meaning, that warns us to be careful.Like: Do not climb - it is dangerous!or put a helmet on, as the bible says:

We should continue to search for the meaning of the commandments, so we can fulfill the Word of God with joy, understanding and faith.

That is why we continue to study the Word of God.