Ki Teitzei means when you go out, and it’s found in the book of Deuteronomy in the Torah. It goes into how to deal with a variety of situations life can throw at you. We’re talking about relationships, divorce, and even the pursuit of justice. Yes, it’s a lot of information for one book, but don’t feel overwhelmed; we’ll break it all down for you.
Marriage and divorce
Getting hitched and unhitched was a concern of people back in the day, and luckily, there were plenty of rules to let people know just how to do it. A divorce is only possible if there is a written document that spells everything out. Also, a newly married man can’t be drafted into war for one year. The year is to give him time to bring happiness to his wife and all that goes with it.
Rights of inheritance
The firstborn son always gets double the inheritance as everyone else. It doesn’t matter if the firstborn son is from the less desirable wife if the man has two wives. What matters is that he is the firstborn son, which means he gets double. The idea is that this law makes favoritism impossible, but you probably don’t see it that way if you’re the second-born son.
Rebellious and defiant sons
There’s always one in the group, and the solution for him is quite simple. The law states that the parents are to bring the son in front of the elders for judgment. It is up to the elders to set him straight so he doesn’t continue on his wayward path.
What to do if you find lost property
If you find something that isn’t yours, it’s your duty to work as hard as possible to find the rightful owner. The law is set up in a way to promote honesty and forge a sense of community. You aren’t to gloat and be happy you found a lost item; you are to do your very best to bring it to the person who lost it.
The rights of workers
Some might find it surprising that even back then, workers' rights were a concern. The Ki Teitzei mandates the quick payment of salaries to workers. Employers can’t withhold the salaries of the poor or foreign laborers.
Taking care of the most vulnerable
The practice of pe'ah states that a farmer should leave a portion of his fields for the poor and needy to harvest. Those who were in need could harvest these fields and get food for free if they were willing to put in the work to get it.
Justice was also a major concern
Ki Teitzei makes sure that justice is practiced evenly, without regard if a person is orphaned or a widow. The goal here was to make sure the law was applied evenly so that no one had more rights than another person.
Sexual laws punished those who committed adultery, rape, or incest. Laws also concerning business were included about falsifying weights and measurements when selling items.
The teaching of compassion for animals
All animals were allowed to eat while they worked. A female chicken was to be removed before you took the eggs from her. Animal welfare laws were important because it was believed that a civilized society couldn’t mistreat animals.
Don’t forget the attack by Amalek
They were reminded to never forget the attack by Amalek when the Israelites were leaving Egypt. It served as a reminder for the Jewish people of those who wish them harm.
Wishing you a wonderful and sacred day!
See you in the next update,
Tohar Liani