Ki tetze… When you go out…
Jews pay
attention to what other Jews do in public. This is a fact known in the community, and one I have
written about. We are conscious of
who is a Jew, at least in name, and how s/he acts in the world. Parashat Ki Tetze gives us at least
part of the rulebook for our interactions in the world. It is a rulebook ahead of its time,
beginning with laws governing basic human kindness during a time when might
made right.
The scope of
interaction is vast. We begin with
the capture of women in war, certainly a giant step from the reality of the
day. Following are the rights of
the firstborn, although this too reacts to the displacement of a first wife for
a more beloved one, the disobedient son, basic laws of kindness- to the other
people, to the dead, and to animals.
The issues of adultery and divorce are addressed, as well as rape. Sexual acts, the most intimate of
interaction, are given a holy structure.
In its proper place it is elevated and holy, but outside that place it
is debased. This is far from the
ritual sexual excess of some groups at the time, or the sinful view of sex from
later ones. Even in a time of
arranged marriage, the importance of the developing relationship between
newlyweds is stressed. The slave
trade is legislated away. Needs
are addressed. Money lending and
vows are recognized as part of society, but limits are set. Fair treatment of workers is
stressed. Injustice and dishonesty
condemned.
The parasha
opens with the words ki tetze, when you go
out. What follows are rules of
war, but the opening words set the tone for the rest of our reading. When we go out how do we act? Are we a Jew at home and a merely a
mentsch in the street? Should we
not be both at all times? To see
our laws as pertaining only to our private lives, but not when we go out is not
acceptable. Neither is it permissible
to ignore the view of the world when we do go out.
The parasha
ends with a reminder timche et zeicher Amalek mitachat hashamayim lo
tishkach; blot out the memory of Amalek from under
the Heavens; do not forget. Amalek
is condemned for his cowardly attack of the weakest of society at the rear of
the Israelite procession. His
memory illustrates the opposite of what we are commanded to do. When you go out care about others. Protect the weak. At all times be both a Jew and a
mentsch.
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