The Bigger Picture: Ki Teitzei

What is the Torah’s Big Picture? The answer can be achieved by making sense of a one particular perplexing commandment from the Torah Portion Ki Teitzei. Before doing so, one must understand that the Pentateuch, some opine, was intended to be a nation’s law. To accomplish this goal, the Torah is crafted with commandments thatContinue reading “The Bigger Picture: Ki Teitzei”

Thou Shalt Not Procrastinate? Ki Teitzei

Is procrastination a commandment violation? The Torah Portion Ki Teizei addresses this put-off subject tied to the Decalogue. In a passage exploring the significance of the passage of time, the Ten Commandments becomes relevant. Beyond excoriating the usual suspects- all of us who delay fulfilling commitments, the Torah implores people to do one of theContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not Procrastinate? Ki Teitzei”

Ki Teitzei: Bad Boys

“A question is due to knowing too little, to a desire to know more; a problem is often due to knowing too much.” Abraham J. Heschel The Torah’s controversial “bad boy” passage in the Portion Ki Teitzei fortuitously came. Within the past month, I had began reading two books on point. Abraham J. Heschel’s “WhoContinue reading “Ki Teitzei: Bad Boys”

Thou Shalt Not Be A Pig? Ki Tezieh

But if you try sometime, you’ll find that you get what you need Rolling Stones A two-sentence kerfuffle! Oh my! A particularly short Ki Tezieh Torah Portion passage presents with mind-bending complexity. While these two sentences yield a multitude of interpretations, the text contains a kernel that yields an undisputable consensus opinion: “Don’t be aContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not Be A Pig? Ki Tezieh”