B"H

Friday, Elul 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / August 25, 2023

This week's Parsha is Ki Teitzei – the sixth Parsha in the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).

In this Parsha we find more mitzvot, than in any other Parsha of the Torah (74 mitzvot).  Most of the mitzvot in this Parsha concern behavior between people.

This Parsha is always read in the month of Elul, as we get closer to Rosh Hashana. It teaches us that as we near the end of the year and prepare for the New Year, we must be very careful and excel in our behavior toward others.

One of the mitzvot in this Parsha is, "Hashavat Aveidah" - "returning a lost object" to its rightful owner.  

The Torah states that if you see your brother's ox or sheep go astray you should not hide yourself from them. “You shall bring them back to your brother. If your brother is not close to you or you don't know him, then you shall bring it into your own house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks it and you shall give it back to him." 

The Talmudic sage Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa was extremely careful with this mitzvah.  Once, a person forgot some chickens near Rabbi Chanina's house.  Rabbi Chanina took care of them and was waiting for the owner to come and claim them.  As time passed on the chickens multiplied so greatly that it was impossible for Rabbi Chanina to keep them.  He then sold the chickens and bought goats instead. 

One day, Rabbi Chanina saw a stranger in front of his house. The stranger mentioned that many years ago, he had left a few chickens near the house.  When Rabbi Chanina was convinced that this person was the true owner of the chickens, he took him into the yard and, to the stranger's surprise, said "All these goats are yours.  They came from your chickens!"

What is the connection between this mitzvah and the month of Elul, in which this Parsha is read? "Hashavat Aveidah" - returning a lost object in its spiritual form refers to "Teshuvah" (repentance) which means "to return." This is especially significant in the last month of the year, Elul, which is the month of Teshuvah, when we return and restore our soul to its original form of holiness and purity. 

This mitzvah also applies when we see another Jew who is spiritually lost. It is our duty to help them, to teach them, so they can return to the correct path.

Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov told his disciples the following story; "I was once approached by a Polish peasant who asked me to him help him lift a heavy load unto his wagon.  Realizing that the load was far too heavy for me to lift, I told the man, 'I cannot help you'".

The peasant replied, "You are not saying the truth!  You could help but you don't want to". Rabbi Israel explained that this taught him a great lesson in the service of G-d.  “At times, when we think that we cannot accomplish something, it is not that we can't, rather, we are too lazy to make the effort.”

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:27 / Shabbat ends: 8:30