“If You’re Looking For It, It’s Probably in Ki Teitzei”

   “Our Jewish ancestors did not have a word for religion because Judaism could not be relegated to the place that religion holds in some people’s lives. It was not something to be left in church or synagogue or mosque but rather a set of principles by which to live each and every day” (Irreconcilable Differences?: A Learning Resource for Jews and Christians). That’s why we hesitate calling Judaism anything but a “way of life.” 

    If you read this week’s Torah portion Ki Teitzei, Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19, you’ll realize how true this is. There isn’t one aspect of life not covered by the various mitzvot we find in these four chapters. It deals with executions, lost animals, the prohibition of men and women wearing each other’s clothing, not permitting you to plow with an ox and donkey together, not returning a slave who has come to you for refuge from his master, collecting a debt in a righteous way, etc., etc. Just take a look yourself since I mentioned only a very few. It’s not only the number of these laws that catch our eye, but the foundation for their Divine legislation…what people has so just a system going back that far?

    Just a few weeks ago we read tzedek, tzedek tirdof, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” From this phrase and others in the Torah through the emphasis placed on justice by the prophets, we can see how Reform Judaism stressed this dimension rather than the minutiae of law and ritual, the hallmark of non-liberal branches. And no doubt the contents of Ki Teitzei itself should motivate us all to become more aware of the Torah and other ancient texts, and how relevant they are today. 

   By the way, the “history” of Deuteronomy is fascinating. I mentioned that some believe calling it one of the Five Books of Moses is, as it were, an “honorary” distinction, but that it is so different in style and emphasis that it stands by itself. After years and years of corruption by Manassah, the King of Judah, his grandson, the very young King Josiah “found” this book that emphasized justice and righteousness. He was one of the most upright, fair and compassionate kings of the ancient world…and there is the viable theory that he didn’t “find” it; he probably wrote it himself. What a Book!