B"H

Friday, Elul 12, 5781 / August 20, 2021

This Shabbat we read from the Torah Parshat Ki Teitzei. After this there are only five Parshiot left until the end of the Torah. There are many mitzvot in this Parsha.  Here are some of the mitzvot which apply today:

When one finds someone’s lost property it should be returned to its rightful owner. One is prohibited from making believe they did not see it. They have a mitzvah to pick it up and return it to the rightful owner.

When one sees a fellow’s animal lying under its heavy burden, they must help to lift it.

When building a house, one must build a fence around the roof so that no one will fall from it. The same applies with an open pit. One must build a fence around it so that no one will fall into it.

One is not permitted to plow with an ox and donkey together.

When giving a loan to a Jew or taking a loan from a Jew one is prohibited to take or pay interest.

Rabbi Yaakov Orinstein was asked by a Gentile about this Torah law.  “How can you claim that your Torah is fair, when it prohibits you from taking interest from a Jew, yet allows you to take interest from a non-Jew?”

Rabbi Orinsten replied, “This law is very fair. Fairness is only when it works equally both ways. Had a non-Jew been prohibited from taking interest from a Jew, then it would be fair not to take interest from him either. But Torah law allows a non-Jew to charge a Jew interest, so why shouldn’t we be allowed to charge him interest.

"You shall not plow with an ox and donkey together."  The Iben Ezra explains the reason for this prohibition is out of pity for the donkey which is weaker than the ox and plowing together with the ox is beyond his strength.

The Chezkuni gives another reason: The ox chews its cud while the donkey does not.  If they will plow together the donkey, seeing that the ox is constantly chewing, will think that the ox is eating while it is not. Since this will cause it pain, the Torah prohibited it. There is a great lesson in this. If we must be so careful not to hurt the feelings of an animal, how much more so do we have to care about the feelings of our fellow person.

The story is told of a rabbi who attended a wedding of one of the wealthy people in his city.  It was customary that an area of the hall was designated for the poor, where they benefited of a warm meal.

However, the rabbi noticed that the waiters first served the wedding guests who were enjoying their meal, while the poor were sitting and waiting. "Why aren't the poor being served?" he inquired of the host.

"When the guests are finished being served, we will serve the poor..."

"You are transgressing a prohibition of the Torah!" replied the rabbi. The Torah prohibits the plowing of an ox and donkey together because the donkey will see the ox chewing its cud and thus feel pain and anguish. Now, if the Torah is so concerned with the donkey's feelings, how much more should you consider the pain and feelings of the poor, who see everyone eating when they are not!"

This lesson applies especially in the month of Elul, when we pray that G-d grant us a happy & healthy New Year.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:35 / Shabbat ends: 8:38