Ki Tetze
Deut. 21:10 - 25:19
The name of this week’s Torah portion is Ki Teitzei, which can be translated as “when you go forth.” This, of course, has been a recurring theme for the Israelites, as since they left Egypt they have been “going forth”. They have been traveling through the wilderness for some time now and have already received the Torah. Now they prepare to enter the Promised Land, but are they ready?
The commandments in this week’s portion help the Israelites prepare for their new life. This rather lengthy portion is full of a myriad of laws with the greatest emphasis placed on moral values. The Israelites are charged to choose the way they will act each time the “go forth” in their lives. Their choices will determine the kind of community they will create. They must follow these laws in order to create a truly holy nation.
Is their a difference between doing what simply feels right in the moment and making a conscious and deliberate choice to follow Gods laws? The Torah hints that our choices must be deliberate. As Reform Jews, we may see these laws to be commandments that are mandatory or we might find them open to contemporary interpretation. Either way, our choice to follow or not follow must be conscious and not arbitrary. At times, we find some commandments uncomfortable or unnatural to follow. Some laws directly challenge issues of social ethics in our society today. Therefore, we cannot be passive or complacent when it comes to this process. A conscious, educated, informed choice is crucial.
Every time we perform an ethical act, we are partnering with God. Each of us, individually and collectively, has the power to influence others and in turn build a holy community. Rabbi Eugene Borowitz call this “reaching toward our spiritual potential.” By making this effort, he writes that we can “infuse every ordinary human activity with a touch of transcendence.”
In this month of Elul, as we contemplate our deeds of the past year, we might ask ourselves, “When did I challenge authority for the sake of ethical good?” “When have I thoughtfully considered my choices and when have I made ethical and moral decisions on autopilot?” “How can I in the New Year be more conscious of my decisions and how might I take a more active role in reaching my own ‘spiritual potential?’”
As members of the Temple Isaiah and the greater Jewish community, we must continue to examine our decisions and discuss with our children and the coming generations the power and impact of making conscious choices based on the teachings we find in the Torah.
May we “go forth” to making deliberate and thoughtful choices in our lives partnering with God every step of our lives to make the world a better place.
Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Korn
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