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Shabbat Parashat Ki Teitzei 5775

Ki Teitzei | 14 Elul 5775 | 29/08/2015

Parashat Hashavua: Human Dignity – Never to be Forgotten

Our parasha is full of halachic topics. We will deal with one which seems to not be applicable in our times, but a significant part of the mitzva is extremely relevant now as always. If one is condemned for death by beit din, his corpse is to be hung, but thereafter he must be buried. The Torah warns about failure to do so with the words “and you shall not defile your Land that Hashem, your G-d, has given to you” (Devarim 21:22-23). This is referring to having the body hang for a short time (apparently as part of a process of atonement or warning to others). Even one who is convicted of the most severe crimes is due protection for his human dignity (in fact this is the source for the mitzva to bury the deceased, in general). The Torah teaches us that even such a person retains rights to respect that go along with being created in the image of Hashem.

Ask the Rabbi: How Can We Say Things of Minhag Before Kiddush?

The Tur, Shulchan Aruch, Gra, Pri Megadim, etc. (Orach Chayim 271) all mention the need to rush to make Kiddush and eat as soon as Shabbat commences. Yet, I have never seen a household that doesn't first sing Shalom Aleichem (which contains problematic elements) and Eishet Chayil. Also, making Kiddush is a mitzva (d’oraita, for those who did not daven Ma’ariv, and d’rabbanan for those who did) while the singing is just a very nice (recent) minhag. Since when does a minhag take precedence over a mitzva?! Shouldn't we make Kiddush (and Hamotzi) first?

Ein Ayah: Being Drawn Beyond the Confines of the Physical World

[The malach hamavet (angel of death) needed to take David, who was pushing off his impending death by his involvement in Torah study]. David had an orchard behind his house. The malach hamavet went up and shook the trees. David went out to see. He was climbing a ladder. A rung fell out from beneath him. He was silenced, and he died.

Pninat Mishpat: The Laws of Bar Metzra on Seats in Shul

Reuven sold to Shimon, in order to help make a living, two seats in shul: one in the men’s section and one in the women’s section. Levi, who holds the neighboring seat in the men’s section, wants to employ the rules of bar metzra (the special rule by which the neighbor of property that is sold can pay its price and take the property from a non-neighbor buyer).

Hemdat Yamim

is dedicated

to the memory of:

those who fell in the war

for our homeland.

Yitzchak Eliezer

ben Avraham Mordechai

Jacobson

a"h

Gital Gila Bat Eliyahu Michael a”h

on the occasion of her yahrzeit,

Av 21^st

Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky

bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h.

who passed away on

10 Tamuz, 5774

R' Meir
ben

Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld

o.b.m

R ' Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha

and

Chana bat Yaish & Simcha

Sebbag, z"l

Hemdat Yamim

is endowed by

Les & Ethel Sutker

of Chicago, Illinois
in loving memory of
Max and Mary Sutker
and

Louis and Lillian Klein, z”l

A weekly divrei Torah leaflet: A Glimpse at the Parasha, Ask the Rabbi, From the writings of Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, zt”l, Pninat Mishpat (Jewish Monetary Law).