This week’s reading continues the recapitulation of the biblical laws first given in Exodus. But whereas last week’s dealt mainly with government and social affairs, this week we deal mainly with personal morality. How the individual should behave, rather than the State. The transition is marked by the law of the captive woman. If a man goes to war and…
Parsha Ki Teytzey
Sons Do Not Die for the Sins of Their Fathers
“Fathers shall not be punished for their sons, nor shall sons be punished for their fathers. Each person shall be punished for his own crimes.” Deuteronomy 24.16. On the face of it this quote from this week’s reading, is a biblical response to Sumerian and Assyrian law. They did indeed put children to death for crimes their parents committed and…
Divorce
Divorce is not mentioned in the earlier books of the Torah. Here it is. What happens when a marriage breaks down irretrievably? The Torah in this week’s reading and the Talmud both say that if there is a genuine grievance and it is not just frivolous, then one may divorce. One appears before a Rabbinic Court of Law, a Beth…
Animals and Birds
The Torah contains a surprising number of laws relating to the treatment of animals. “You must not see your brother’s ox or sheep wandering lost and ignore them, but you must return them…and similarly his ass” “Do not look on if you see your brother’s ass or ox fallen by the roadside and ignore it. You must help him raise…
Business Ethics
I have often heard people say that the Torah is so concerned with sacrifices, purity, obedience to rules and regulations, but does not mention business ethics. It might not use that specific expression but there are plenty of laws that govern how we deal commercially and financially with others. Let me just focus on this week’s reading. The Torah forbids…