Parashat Ki Tetzei 5785

by Rabbi Margie Cella

This parashah includes 74 mitzvot, more than any other in the Torah. There are commandments relating to marriage and divorce, laws of inheritance, treatment of animals, and interpersonal relationships. I want to look at some of the commandments from the last category.

The first is the mitzvah of lost objects: if you find someone’s animal wandering around, or find their garment, or anything that (s)he has lost, you must do everything possible (short of incurring personal loss) to return it to him or her. If you see someone’s animal has fallen, you must help him to lift it up again. This all applies even (or especially) if the animal belongs to your enemy (22:1-4).

When building a new house, you must construct a parapet (protective border) on the roof to protect people from falling off (22:8). We must be concerned for the safety of others.

If you lend something to someone who is poor, and he gives you his garment as a pledge, you may not keep it overnight; rather, you must return it to him each night, as he may need it to sleep in (24:10-12).

If you hire a [poor] servant to work for you, you must give him his wages at each day’s end. It would be improper to withhold funds from someone in need.

We also have laws regarding gleaning. When harvesting your field, leave whatever you drop for the poor; similarly, leave what you miss when harvesting from an olive tree or a grapevine (24:19-21). This allows them to gather freely instead of looking for a handout, thus preserving their dignity.

Finally, you must have perfect weights and measures, ensuring honest business practices (25:13-15).

Observing all these commandments should instill in us an awareness and appreciation of the humanity of others. Oseh Shalom, Maker of Peace, help us to value the lives of others as much as our own.