Ki tetze Text Message

Parashat Ki Tetze (When you go out)

This section contains several rules not necessarily related one to the other.

Towards the end of the parasha, there is a paragraph that became a mitzvah, Zachor. We are commanded to remember what Amalek did to us when we left Egypt,  when they attacked the Israelites from the back.

Before that, we are also reminded (with the same verb, Zachor) that we had been slaves in Egypt and, therefore, need to treat strangers nicely.

Also before that, we are told to remember what happened to Miriam in the desert when she got sick with leprosy.

Three sad episodes that happened to the people of Israel. Our memories sometimes are very selective and we may easily forget or remember things that happened long ago.

At this time of the year, it is important to remember what we easily forget, and to forget (and forgive) what still hurts and disturbs.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Shoftim Text message

Parashat Shoftim (Judges)

The Torah says “Tamim tiyieh im Ad-nai Elo-cha”

The word Tamim is a very challenging one when we try to translate it.  Perfect, blameless, never guilty, and innocent, are some of the words I found in different translations.

I would like to suggest that all those translations are incorrect.

The right translation should be: “with the capacity of being surprised”. You should be able to be surprised. The context is the prohibition of going to palm readers, magicians, or fortune tellers, so therefore I strongly believe the translation I proposed is the right one, especially if we learn that “Tamim” comes from the word “Tmihah”; in Hebrew that means surprise.

Sometimes with all the technology we have handy, we believe we know everything and we forget we can still be surprised.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Text message Ree

Parashat Ree (you shall see)

This section reviews the laws of kashrut.

We learn once again about the animals that are forbidden and those we can eat.

For animals that walk on four legs, we have two simultaneous conditions in order to be kosher. Same thing happens with fish.

But with birds, there are no special rules but rather a list of those that are permitted and those that are not. Why?

Birds are the only animals that can see the rest of the creatures from above.

Maybe the Torah is telling us that those who look at the rest from above will be, at some point, singled out.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L