Divrei Ki Seitze
War
This week’s parsha contains more mitzvos – seventy four – than any other. Many of them, such as the timely payment of workers, form important parts of our daily lives. Curiously, the first mitzvos mentioned in the parsha deal with a rare scenario, when a Jewish soldier captures a beautiful gentile woman. True, the gemara in Sanhedrin 49a tells us that four hundred of Dovid Hamelech’s children, including Tamar and Avshalom, came from n’shei yifos toar, but how are these mitzvos relevant to us? In Yaari Im Divshi (4:1:239-240), HaRav Yonason Eybeshitz zt”l gives a deeper insight, one which puts these mitzvos in the category of near-constant obligations.
“When you will go out to wage war upon your enemies.” The Sifri here states that the “war” here is a milchemes rishus, a “voluntary” war, of our free will. The Zohar states that the enemy here is the yetzer hara himself, the ultimate enemy. Together, they tell us that the real “battle zone” does not lie somewhere far away. Rather, the war’s front starts right in front of us, . All may seem quiet; but in reality, sorties, skirmishes, charges, and retreats surround us on all sides.
“Upon your enemies.” The Sifri tells us to read “Against your enemies.” Our key strategy does not call for a gung-ho, search-and-destroy mission against the yetzer hara, but a strategic defense. R’ Yonason proves his point from a gemara in Yuma 69b, which tells us that when the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah battled the temptations for idol worship and immorality, they sealed the first in a lead box and blinded the second – but did not kill them.
“And Hashem, your G-d, will deliver them into your hand.” If, and only if, you go in the ways of Torah, the yetzer hara cannot defeat you.
“And you will see among the captives a woman of beautiful form.” Saving yourself is not enough for Hashem. You will see others who have been weakened by the yetzer hara, just as a woman is physically weaker than a man. (R’ Yonason is not implying a spiritual weakness by women. He knew the gemara in Brochos 17a, (as explained by HaRav Aharon Feldman, shlit”a in The River, the Kettle, and the Bird, p. 55) which states that Hashem has promised to women a larger olam haboh than men.) Still, this person is beautiful; even in his low state, he is a tzelem elokim!
“And you shall bring her into your home.” Certainly, help this fallen Jew to recover his exalted status. However, kiruv must be done on your terms, with sechel, so that he does not pull you down into his low situation.
“And she shall shave her head.” The path to teshuva starts with self-control, ridding oneself of the extras that the outside world has brainwashed us into thinking are necessities.
“And ‘do’ her nails.” In Yevamos 48a, Rabbi Eliezer states that she should cut (“tikotz”) them, a word similar to “tiktzatz,” a fiscal term. A vital step in teshuva is to rid ourselves of gezel, in all its forms. In this throwaway society, valuable commodities are often pilfered. Is time wasted? Are others’ feelings stepped upon?
“And she shall weep for her father and her mother.” The “father” here is Hashem, Whose Torah this fallen Jew has violated. For example, one’s family, including one’s spouse, are full members of klal Yisroel, and as such deserve the privacy and protection afforded by keeping shmiras haloshon and avoiding ona’as devarim. The “mother” represents the rabbis, who raise us, educate us, and guide us with their laws. Have their dicta been ignored, with the notion, “Oh, it’s only a derabbanan”?
“For a month of days.” The extra word implies two months -- Elul and Tishrei – which are most opportune for our teshuva efforts to be successful. May we be zochim to take full advantage of all opportunities from Hashem, to fight and win the real war -- against the yetzer hara.