5 Bullet Fridays: Parshas Ki Seitzei

 ❓Question I am pondering:

 

The Mishna in Berachos states that if someone declares, “Hashem’s rachamim extends to the bird’s nest”, we quiet him. What is so wrong with saying such a statement? What is so inaccurate of such a declaration which would be an understandable observation that one might derive from the mitzva of Shiluach Ha’kein?

💡 Idea I am thinking about:

Second Order Thinking. This concept simply refers to thinking an extra step further to consider possible impacts from a decision as opposed to first order thinking which only considers immediate implications. Although there are much more intelligent examples, here is a simple one: A heavy person is chasing you. There are countless examples of this and actively thinking along second order helps one better think through cause and effect chains. A Rashi in this week’s parsha had me thinking about Second Order Thinking. The pasukim describe the mitzva of doing yibum, and the Torah mentions that in the event the living brother would choose not to do yibum, he must go through the process of chalitzah. The Torah walks through the process that he and the widow must do which includes the widow stating, “…this is what is done to the man who will not build his brother’s house.” Rashi comments that the wording of this declaration is not “….who did not build his brother’s house”, but rather “who will not build”. It is written future looking which is the source for the halacha brought in the Gemara Yevamos that once one does chalitzah, he cannot change his mind and do a yibum. Actions have consequences. We should view our actions not as a look-back of “this is what I did” but rather as a forward-looking statement of “because I did this, that will result”.

 

 💢Concept I am considering:\ 

Gadol Metzuveh v’Oseh. This concept is an interesting one which is brought down as a lesson we learn from Avraham avinu, who waited to for Hashem to command him to do bris millah. At some level, the concept seems counterintuitive as one would imagine it would be a great thing to be able to something even without being asked. So how could we understand this idea? One answer I have heard brought down in the rishonim is that when we are commanded to do things it is naturally harder to do it because our yetzer hara kicks in and tries to stop us. This is why in terms of s’char we could understand why doing something we are commanded to is a bigger accomplishment and deserving of bigger reward than doing something we are not obligated to do. However, perhaps there is another pashut way of understanding this concept as well. Hashem is the Master of the Universe and His ultimate wisdom He decides what he commands His “subjects” to do. These mitzvos are specifically tailored by category and gender all in alignment with the way He created the world. If Hashem commands one type of person to do something and someone else decides to do it, at a minimum we would understand why such a person shouldn’t receive the same reward, as in fact in some cases it would be a serious sin (for example – someone other than the Kohen Gadol to enter the Kodesh Hakedoshim on Yom Kippur to do the avodah). However even for a mitzvah which is okay for someone to do despite not being commanded, it is totally understandable why it would not be as great and would not merit the same reward. If it was not commanded, then Hashem obviously did not feel it be part of that category of people’s growth plan in this world and would certainly not incentivize to the same degree to accomplish.

 

👑 Hashkafic idea I am reflecting on:

Teshuva. The Mabit describes that the word teshuva means to return. What is it that we are returning to? We are targeting to return to the relationship we had with Hashem before sinning. When we do an aveirah, we are of course doing an inherently bad thing and rebelling against the King of all Kings. However, furthermore, we are damaging a relationship. Real teshuva goes beyond remorse and making commitments for the future to not continue on a bad path, it is also working towards recreating the stronger relationship that existed before.

😀 Middah on my mind:

Kavod. As Rosh Hashana is approaching it is hard not to think about the fact that Hashem is the King of the universe and is both the Borei as well as the Manhig. It is humiliating to think that no matter what area of kavod we think we could achieve it is really all nothing. Absolutely nothing. All fake news. The Rambam in Hilchos Talmud Torah writes this explicitly, “Ein kavod ella Torah”. Everything else is merely a moshol.