Ki Teitzei
Rabbi Jablinowitz
Our parsha begins with the words, Ki Teitzei La’Milchamah Al Oyvecha, when you wage war against your enemy. There is a well known idea in the Sefarim, which we have brought in the past, that this pasuk is referring to the ongoing battle that one has with his yetzer hara. The Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh teaches that this is implied in the word La’Milchamah, with a patach under the lamed, indicating that particular and well known war, i.e. with the yetzer hara.
The Sfas Emes expands on the idea that the Torah is hinting at a personal battle carried on by every Jew. But rather than emphasize the overall struggle with the yetzer hara, the Sfas Emes teaches that there is an ongoing battle that one has in finding the Kedushah of Hashem in the world. This constant struggle takes place during the six days of the week when it is more difficult to sense that behind the natural world lies the Asarah Ma’amaros, the ten statements with which Gd created the world. On Shabbos, however, we say Vayechulu Hashamayim V’Ha’aretz. All of Clal Yisrael together testify to the creation of the world by Gd. This testimony reflects the clarity of vision experienced by all on the holy day of Shabbos.
Nonetheless, Chazal teach us Mi She’torach B’Erev Shabbos, Hu Yochal B’Shabbos. This literally means that the one who works and prepares on Erev Shabbos will be the one who eats on Shabbos. The Sfas Emes extends the meaning of this Medrash to include the ongoing war we have described. The more one toils on Erev Shabbos to find Divine holiness in the world, the more likely he is to have the clarity of vision and the exalted spirit of connection to Hashem on Shabbos. Erev Shabbos in particular is a time when there is a combination of the hidden, weekday nature of Gd’s presence and the clarity of Shabbos mixed together. This is the time when one must wage war, and sift out the holiness of the world in order to properly enjoy Shabbos.
The pasuk continues and says, U’Nesano Hashem Elokecha Be’Yadecha, and Gd will place your enemy in your hand. Here the pasuk is indicating that if we are victorious in our battle, we should not attribute it to our cleverness or to our piety. Rather, it is all a result of Siyata Dishmaya, the help of Heaven, as the pasuk inidicates, U’Nesano Hashem Elokecha Be’Yadecha, Gd has enabled you to find the holiness and has placed it in your hand.
Finally, the pasuk says V’Shavisa Shivyo, and you shall take captives.
The Sfas Emes understands that these words are to be understood in the sense of returning, or Teshuvah. There is a halacha in Shelichus that after one has completed a mission he must return to the one who sent him and inform him that he has fulfilled his mission. Similarly, one has to return to Hashem, return to the source as an indication that he has fulfilled the task of finding the Divine presence in the world.
This is the completion of the cycle; by indicating to Hashem that he has fulfilled His will, it implies that he has an understanding that everything in the world comes from Hashem. This is the spiritual journey that every Jew must take, and the Torah is teaching us that it is a constant, ongoing battle for life.
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