Shabbat Ki Tetze

Torah: Deut. 21.10-25.19.

Haftorah: Isaiah 54.1-10.

One normally equates a religious document with anything but secular concerns. The revolutionary aspect of today’s Torah Reading is that Jews believe that the holy society must be free from sin, both in the Human - G*d relationship and in the Human - Human. Laws of family life and of general kindness, even to beasts, punctuate this Torah Reading. It may all sound like common sense to us today, but it is clear that the basis of so-called Western Civilization rests on our Torah, a religious document that instructs the human how to live - even in the most secular of our pursuits. Can you imagine what the world would be like without the Jewish people spreading the teachings of G*d’s gift of Torah to all of civilization’s religious and secular activities?

Notice: We are in the month of Elul, the month that precedes the Yamin Noraim, or Days of Awe. It is a time for intense introspection for every Jew. We attempt to examine our ways of the past, and change those facets of ourselves that are in need of change. This concept of Teshuva, or turning, is very important. We all wish to come closer to G*d, but we understand that true repentance is not something one can accomplish at will. Things take time. We feel that a full month is the minimum preparation time required before facing the L-rd on Judgment Day. During the month of Elul, the Shofar, or Ram’s horn, is sounded each weekday morning at the conclusion of the morning prayers, stirring our hearts toward Teshuva. The 27th Psalm, that presents Almighty G*d as our true source of salvation, serves as an affirmation of G*d’s eternal love for us all. It is said from Elul through the Festival of Sukkot. 

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