Ki Tetse' (Deut. 21:10-25:19)

Man’s Best Friend

            Ki Tetse’, this week’s parasha, covers many topics, but I’d like to focus on animals. Some verses in Chapter 22 reflect on kindness to animals. Today with organizations such as PETA and the Humane Society, we have seen examples of how sad it can be when the wrong people are around our four-legged friends. The Talmud also touts the benefit of animals: R’ Johanan observed: If the Torah had not been given, we would have learned modesty from the cat, honesty from the ant, chastity from the dove and good manners from the cock who first coaxes and then mates. (Eruvin 100B)

Shofetim (Deut. 16:18-21:9)

Justice is Blind

            This week’s parasha, Shofetim, covers judges, worshipping other gods, the idea of a king in the Promised Land, how Levites were to be provided for, and war time. Hashem wanted unbiased magistrates and officials, telling them “Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that the L-rd your G-d is giving you.” (Deut. 16:20)  We too, must heed that command. They say “justice is blind” and I believe that is because we should look with our hearts and not just our eyes.