Divrei Menachem

Divrei Menachem for Parashat Ki Teitzei

Ki Tetzei opens with a reference to those who go out to war against the enemy. The Chassidic masters naturally proposed that our enemies comprise those negative human drives that lead us away from Hashem and into misdemeanors of all kinds. But how many commentators would ever translate the Hebrew words Ki Tetzei to mean, “If you would go out of your way” to overcome your evil inclination, a.k.a., your ego?

Consider that later in the parsha we are bidden several times to look after those unfortunate individuals who are unable to take care of themselves - the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger in our midst. We are to pay them on time; we are not to take away their essential clothing as collateral. Once having been slaves, we should know better than to take advantage of vulnerable souls.

We would think that assisting the weak was an obvious ethical imperative. Moreover, we altruistic types would clearly not anticipate any recognition for our charitable deeds! Or would we? For why would the Torah go out of its way to tell us well-meaning folks that if, at night, we return the pledged garment to the destitute debtor, “it will be considered an act of righteousness before Hashem” (D’varim 24:13)? The answer, Rashi advises us, is because, despite our bloated high opinion of ourselves, we were still disappointed (and sometimes disgusted) at not having received any thanks at all from our downtrodden defaulter.

Shabbat Shalom, Menachem Persoff

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