By Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon
Chabad.org
The Torah portion of Ki Teitzei contains 74 of the Torah’s 613 mitzvahs—27 positive commandments and 47 prohibitions—more mitzvahs than any other parshah. A portion so rich in mitzvahs is naturally filled with profound life lessons as well.
One of the most beautiful aspects of any mitzvah is that, as a reward for performing it, we are given the opportunity to perform another. “A mitzvah brings another mitzvah ... for the reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah,” the Mishnah promises. Rashi highlights this concept, explaining that the juxtaposition of several mitzvahs in this parshah illustrates how one mitzvah leads to another, and then another, in a continuous chain.
Consider the mitzvah of shiluach haken, “the sending of the nest.” The Torah instructs:
If a bird’s nest chances before you on the road, on any tree or on the ground, and [it contains] fledglings or eggs, if the mother is sitting upon the fledglings or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother [from] upon the young. You shall send away the mother, and [then] you may take the young for yourself, in order that it should be good for you, and you should lengthen your days.
Essentially, if someone finds a nest and wants to take the eggs or young birds, they must first send the mother away. Now, says Rashi, watch what happens:
With the prosperity you will merit as a reward for fulfilling this commandment, you will build a new home, and you will then be positioned to fulfill the mitzvah of ma’akeh, which is outlined in the subsequent verse:
When you build a new house, you shall make a guard rail—a ma’aakeh—for your roof, so that you shall not cause blood to be spilled in your house, that the one who falls should fall from it.
As a further reward for fulfilling the commandment to send away the mother bird, you will also be blessed with vineyards and fields. This will obligate you in the mitzvahs of kelayim—the prohibitions against mixing species of grain or vegetables, crossbreeding animals, and plowing your field with an ox and donkey simultaneously (or any two types of animals).
Additionally, you will be blessed with fine clothing, obligating you in the mitzvah of shatnez—the prohibition against wearing cloth that contains both wool and linen.
Thus, by reading verses 6-12 of a single chapter we see the mitzvah domino effect—one mitzvah leads to another!
DIVINE CALCULUS
The mitzvah of sending away the mother bird before taking her eggs or chicks would appear to be a lesson in compassion. The Talmud, however, refers to this mitzvah as a chok, a Divine decree for which no reason is given. The Mishnah admonishes that anyone who adds to the prayer service, “Your mercy extends upon the nest of birds,” is to be silenced. In other words, don’t presume that the reason for this mitzvah is G-d’s compassion.
True, in our limited understanding, it may seem that it is all about mercy and compassion. But when we assume this, we are, in a sense, selling G-d short, “limiting” Him by attempting to define Him by our human perception. The mercy He displays toward the bird is, in fact, a heavenly decree beyond our understanding.
Just because we think we know G-d’s reasons for something doesn’t mean we are right. This is crucial to keep in mind when performing mitzvahs. We must do so only because G-d commanded us, and not for any other reason.
ATTRACTING GOODNESS
Taking a closer look at the mitzvah to build a fence around your roof, we find that the Torah uses an interesting expression: build a protective fence so “the one who falls” shouldn’t fall.
This touches on a fascinating theological question: G-d runs the world; life and death are in His hands. People don’t just fall off roofs—everything is predestined. One might argue, “If this guy is destined to fall off the roof, why would I be held liable? If he is not meant to fall, he won’t fall, regardless of whether I build a fence!”
This argument is actually partially correct. No one falls off a roof without it being part of G-d’s plan, which is why the person is referred to as the “one who falls.” Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be your roof! Let it happen through someone else.
G-d enables good people to do good things. When a poor person is destined to be fed and cared for, G-d finds good people—those who seek to do good deeds—and allows them to be the ones to help.
Good things are brought about through good people, and the opposite is true as well.
When something negative must occur, G-d finds the type of person who ignores the mitzvah of building a protective fence around his roof, and the person destined to fall to his death falls specifically from that person’s roof.
SEPARATION AND SENSITIVITY
The mitzvah of kelayim includes the prohibition against having animals of two different species work together in the field, such as jointly plowing, threshing, or pulling a wagon. “You shall not plow with an ox and donkey together.”
One reason for this mitzvah is to maintain the separation of the pure from the impure. An ox is a kosher animal, while the donkey is non-kosher; the pure should not mix with the impure.
This principle also applies to human relationships. Righteous people, or those striving to be righteous, should not assimilate with wicked people unless they are certain they can influence them without being influenced themselves.
Another reason we avoid plowing with an ox and donkey together is out of sensitivity. The ox, being a kosher animal, chews its cud, while the donkey, a non-kosher animal, does not. When the donkey sees the ox chewing, it may mistakenly think that the ox has just been fed while the donkey has not, causing distress to the donkey. This is considered insensitive and cruel.
If G-d is so concerned about the feelings of an animal, imagine how careful we must be with the feelings of our fellow human beings.
HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE
Another mitzvah in this parshah is the commandment for a groom to remain with, and not apart from, his bride during the first year of their marriage. As such, he is exempt from military service during this time.
When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, nor shall he be subjected to anything associated with it. He shall remain free for his home for one year and delight his wife, whom he has taken.
What is the newlywed husband to do during this first year of marriage, when he is not supposed to leave his house?
“Vesimach et ishto.”
The word “et” can either introduce the direct object, namely, “his wife,” or it can mean “with.”
There are two ways to interpret the verse:
- One is that he shall rejoice with his wife; they should have a year of partying. But that’s not the correct interpretation.
- “Vesimach et ishto” means that he must make his wife happy. A husband is not meant to focus on his own happiness; that is not his obligation. The primary obligation of a Jewish husband is to ensure that his wife is happy.
If his wife is happy, his children are happy, and his family is happy, chances are he’ll be happy as well. But his happiness is not his job; it is the by-product of doing his job well!
APPROPRIATELY BALANCED
Another mitzvah in this Torah portion is be honest with weights and measures:
You shall not keep in your house two different ephah measures, one large and one small. Rather, you shall have a full and honest weight, and a full and honest ephah measure, in order that your days will be prolonged on the land which the L-rd, your G-d, gives you.
This mitzvah is directly followed by the commandment to never forget what Amalek did to the Jewish People:
Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey out of Egypt, how they surprised you on the way...
