Parashat Ki Teitzei (When You Go Out)
D’varim (Deuteronomy) 21:10-25:19
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10
This week’s Parashah is rich with teachings that offer profound wisdom, love, and grace. These precepts are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago, speaking directly to the moral and societal issues we face. In Deuteronomy chapter 22, we encounter a few verses that resonate with me deeply, taking me back to my childhood days on the kibbutz. Back then, we lived as an extended family, where trust and care for one another were the foundation of our community. There was no need to lock our doors—people didn’t steal, and if someone found something that didn’t belong to them, they ensured it was returned to its rightful owner.
I remember one incident in particular when a gate in the dairy barn was left open by mistake. The cows escaped, and soon, they were running all over the kibbutz. Everyone, regardless of their daily work, rushed to help return the cows. It didn’t matter whether you worked with the animals or not; it was the sense of collective responsibility that moved us all to act.
This memory mirrors the command in Deuteronomy:
You shall not see your brother’s ox or sheep straying away, and ignore them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother… You are not allowed to neglect them.
Deuteronomy 22:1-4
The principle here goes beyond simply returning lost property; it’s a call to care for one another, not just our own interests. Some translations use the word “countryman,” but the Hebrew word is “Ach” - brother. The word brother carries a different weight. A brother is family, and family members are meant to care for one another. If we can see each person as our brother, perhaps we can reclaim a sense of unity and compassion in a world that feels increasingly divided.
Today, I sat with a religious Jewish gentleman, and we discussed the troubling state of our society here in Israel. As we spoke, we couldn’t help but reflect on the deep divisions that became so visible in the months leading up to October 7, 2023. The Judicial Reform process tore at the fabric of our beloved nation, pitting people against one another, not because of their character but because of their outward appearances, beliefs, or political stances. People judged each other based on how they looked, whether they had tattoos, whether they wore a kippah (skullcap)—dividing us into camps of “us” and “them.”
Both my companion and I hoped that after the tragic events of October 7th, a sense of unity would emerge. But as we see, the same divisions persist, and our enemies take advantage of this weakness, feeding into our internal discord. It was during this conversation that I recalled the verses from this week’s Parashah:
You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them… You shall certainly bring them back to your brother. You are not allowed to neglect them.
Deuteronomy 22:1-4
How far have we drifted from this ideal? The Torah commands us to help one another, regardless of political views or external appearances, simply because we are all created in the image of God. We are called to “love your neighbor as yourself,” yet today, it feels like we’ve forgotten how to do so.
If we are to truly love our neighbor, it begins with returning to God first. The very foundation of this commandment—loving our brother—comes from our relationship with God. Before we can genuinely love and care for one another, we must renew our love and devotion to God. Returning to God is the first and most essential step in healing the divisions among us.
When we return to God, we realign our hearts with His values: compassion, justice, and mercy. It is only through this divine connection that we can see others not through the lens of differences, but as brothers and sisters. Without this spiritual restoration, our attempts to unify will fall short because we lack the source of true unity. God is the one who binds us together, and only through Him can we transcend the divisions of this world.
The concept of "returning lost things" in this week’s Parashah can also be seen as a metaphor for our spiritual journey. Just as we are called to return a lost ox or sheep to its rightful owner, we are also called to return ourselves to our Creator. In doing so, we find our true identity, and we regain our ability to see others as our brothers. We must not neglect our duty to return to God, just as we are not allowed to ignore our brother’s needs. Our spiritual restoration is strongly connected to how we treat others.
From a human perspective, the situation here in Israel seems hopeless, both internally and externally. The divisions are deep, and the challenges many. But I find my hope in God’s promises. He has not forgotten us. He will restore us, not only to Himself but to one another.
In the Haftarah from Isaiah (54:1-10), we hear a powerful message of hope:
“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My favor will not be removed from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
Isaiah’s words remind us that even when everything around us seems to crumble, God’s love remains unshaken. His covenant of peace is unbreakable. Just as He promised never to flood the earth again, He promises never to turn His back on His people. Even in moments of anger or distance, His compassion is everlasting.
As a nation, we may feel divided, but we are not beyond hope. We must return to God, and through Him, we will find the strength to return to one another. We must return to the core principles of our faith: love, compassion, and mutual responsibility. If we could once again see each other as brothers, perhaps we could heal the rifts among us. But it all starts with turning back to God.
The Torah’s wisdom isn’t just an ancient text—it is a guide for how we can live better lives, today and every day. So, as we enter this Shabbat, let’s take time to reflect on how we can restore our bonds as a people and, most importantly, how we can return to God. How can we return to the principle of caring for one another, just as we are commanded in this week’s Parashah? Let this Shabbat bring us closer to God, and closer to one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Moran