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Ki Seitzei
I. Inner Meaning
1. 'When you will go out to war against
your enemies, and HaShem* your G-d will give them into your hand, and
you will capture his captives.' (Devorim* 21.10)
We can explain the meaning of this verse according to what I have
written elsewhere concerning the Rambam's* explanation of the teaching
of Chazal*: 'The Holy One Blessed is He does not have a place in this
world except in the four amos* of halacha*.' (This appears in his
introduction to the Mishnah.) My teacher [the Baal Shem Tov] explained
that this refers to the idea that everything that is done in this world
has a deeper inner meaning. (See what I explained there.)
With this idea we can understand the verse.
'When you will go out to war.' This means immediately when you go out
from the house of study.
You find yourself in a war 'against your enemies.' This is because
immediately when you open your door, sin waits to entrap you. When a
person understands this, [it will be that] when he goes out to do his
work in this world, he [will realize that he] is in a war with his
enemy; The Yetzer HaRah*. Then he will make war with his Yetzer
HaRah...
Then 'and HaShem your G-d will give them into your hand, and you will
capture his captives.' You will find the inner meaning that applies to
all the external [revealed] actions. This is one's work in the things of
this world. [You will find the inner meaning] which is hidden in
the [actions that you do in the] external world.
'And you will see among the captives a beautiful women.' This is the
inner meaning.
'And you will desire her.' You will have an inner desire for this [inner
meaning.] [And your inner desire will] not be joined with an external
desire. [Your desire will be only to serve HaShem according to the
inner meaning.] (p. 689 sefer Toldos Yakov Yosef teachings of Rebbe*
Yakov Yosef of Polnoye.)
* * *
II. Remembering old Sins
2. 'When you will go out to war against your enemies, and HaShem your
G-d will give them into your hand, and you will capture his captives.' (Devorim
21.10)
We can explain this verse according to a teaching from the sefer* Yesh
Nochlin. [He says that] when you will be presented with the [possibility
of doing] some sin. You should consider all the sins that you have
already done. From this you will be able to save yourself from falling
into this sin.
This is the meaning of the verse:
'When you will go out to war against your enemies.' The main thing is
that you should desire to make war with him.
Then certainly '[He] will give them into your hand.
'And you will capture his captives.' These are the captives that you
have already had. [The sins which you have done in the past.] You should
consider the sins that you had previously fallen into and come up with
ideas [of things to do] which will keep you from falling into them again
(as we see from the sefer Yesh Nochlin.) Then you will be saved from
falling into the sin again. [You should always consider] that it is
possible for you to fall into this sin as you had been
accustomed to doing it in the past. Therefore it says 'And you will
capture his captives.' You shall make 'gates' [so that you will not sin
again.] (p. 69 sefer Razin D'Oraysa teachings of Rebbe Velvel of
Zabriz.)
* * *
III. Reward of the Mitzvos*
3. 'You shall send the mother and the children you should take for you.'
(Devorim 22.7)
The Talmud* tells us that there are two mitzvos for which HaShem
specifically explains their reward. One is called the easiest[, the
sending the mother bird.] The other is called the hardest [,the honoring
your parents.] The sending of the mother bird refers to the person who
is able to leave over any desire for good things that he may have in
this world for the honor of HaShem. This is called the 'easiest'. This
is because every Jew is capable of doing this. [It is easy to achieve
holiness and purity of intention when doing things for which he has no
personal gain.] Every place where a person leaves over the good things
of this world, then he becomes purified. The honor of your father refers
to those mitzvos from which a person receives personal enjoyment. These
are called the 'hardest.' That is because in the place where a person
has some personal enjoyment it is
very hard for him to be pure in his motivation.
For this reason with regards to the sending of the mother it says first,
'in order that it shall be good for you' and then 'your days will be
lengthened.' This is because here we are referring to one who has left
over all enjoyment involved in that act. For that reason HaShem tells
him first that 'it shall be good with you.' This is certain. The person
himself knows that it is true and he has trust that HaShem will lengthen
his days.
With regards to honoring your father it first says 'in order to lengthen
your days' and then 'in order that it should be good for you.' Even
though you already have enjoyment from this world it will be good for
you in the future [in the world to come.] (p. 190 sefer Mi Hashiloach
teachings of Rebbe Mordechai Yosef of Izbitza)
* * *
IV. Relying on HaShem
4. 'When you will go out to war against
your enemies, and HaShem your G-d will give them into your hand, and you
will capture his
captives.' (Devorim 21.10)
The verse says, 'In all your ways you should know Him and he will make
straight your ways.' The meaning of this is that in all of your
actions you should see to it that you join yourself to HaShem and
become attached to Him [in thought] always. And through this
attachment 'He will make straight your ways.'
The reason is that it is not possible for a person to rely upon
himself and his own understanding for any action that is done in the
service of HaShem. [The verse says,] 'With this you shall go into the
Holy [area.' This refers to] when you will join yourself to HaShem.
And if HaShem is with you then you will certainly not be lacking in
anything.
The main thing is that a person should never say that 'my strength
and the strength of my hands has made me wealthy.' Or that I have the
strength to succeed in the war with the Yetzer HaRah.
It says in the sefer Chovos Lavovos that the main service [of HaShem]
that a person must do in this world is to prepare himself with all of
his limbs so that he should always be ready to do the will of HaShem.
He need only do the preparation [for the mitzvah.]
To take this from being something that is contained in his thoughts
and in his will and make it into a completed action requires the help
of HaShem. HaShem has to help him so that he could do this good deed.
The main desire of HaShem with regards to the person is concerning
his preparation [to do the mitzvah.] HaShem wants him to be ready to
do the will of HaShem [at all times.]
The person who has attained the understanding of this idea is worthy
to be called a 'Chocham*.' The verse says, 'The Chocham should not
praise himself with his wisdom... with this he shall praise himself,
with his knowledge and understanding of Me.' The meaning is that the
person who HaShem has bestowed intelligence to understand, with a
purified understanding, that everything is from HaShem. This person
is worthy to be praised for his clear understanding [that everything
is from HaShem. 'Understanding of Me' means that he understands that
everything is from HaShem.] From this [understanding] he will be
saved from arrogance. This is because he has no reason to be
arrogant since [he recognizes that] even his knowledge is not his
own, but was bestowed on him by HaShem.
This is what the verse means:
'When you will go out to war against your enemies.' The main thing to
remember [with regards to this war] is ...
'And HaShem your G-d will give them into your hand.' HaShem comes to
the help of the soldiers.
When you will understand this with a clear understanding then you
will be successful in the war, 'and you will capture his captives.'
(p. 180 sefer Avodos Yisaschar teachings of Rebbe Yisachar Ber of
Valbruz)
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Glossary:
Arizal: Hebrew initials of the words: Adoni Rabbenu Yitzchok
Zechorono LeVaracha our master Rabbi Yitzchok. Better known as
Yitzchok Luria the great 16th century
Kabbalist
Chazal: Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (Our
sages of Blessed memory) Used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud.
HaShem: Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Name
HY'D: Heb. HaShem Yimkom Domov: HaShem should avenge their blood.
Mishleh: One of the books of the Tenach, called in English
Proverbs.
Mitzvah (mitzvos):
One of the commandments of the Torah.
nashama: Hebrew word for soul.
peshat: A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding the
simple meaning in the Torah.
Rashi: The primary commentary on the Tenach.
Rebbe: Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher
Shabbos:
Tractate in the Talmud
Shemos: Second book of the Torah. Called Exodus in English
Talmid (Talmidim): Disciples of a Rebbe.
Talmud: An ancient work of Jewish law.
Tehillim: Hebrew name for Psalms.
Torah: a. First 5 books of the Jewish Bible
b. Also refers to
the whole of Jewish law
c. also common term
for a chassidic teaching
Tshuva: Hebrew word for repentance
Tzaddik (Tzaddikim): lit. Righteous. Another name for a Chassidic
Rebbe.
Yetzer: lit. Inclination. It is Jewish belief that every Jew has
both an evil and good inclination within him, that are at 'war' to see
which of them the person will follow.
Yetzer Tov: Heb. Good Inclination
Yetzer HaRah: Heb. Evil Inclination.
ZT'L: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tzaddik LeVaracha (The
memory of a Tzaddik - Righteous person is a blessing.)
ZY'A: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechiso Yagan Aleinu (His
merit should protect us.)
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Copyright (c) 1997 by Moshe Shulman
(mshulman@virtual.co.il)
All rights reserved.
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