What do you do when you wake up in a moment and realize you are seeing someone, your child, your partner, neighbor, someone you disagree with or fear, as enemy? This week's Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, begins by offering the possibility of transforming ourselves and that moment by shifting from seeing others as enemy to seeing their beauty. This is how we make relevant the opening lines and tone of the entire Torah portion. When you, in the midst of the struggles and battles of life, stop and look deeply at how you are caught in the image of another suffering human as enemy, instead of destroying them, let their humanity, their beauty, be revealed. This is a vulnerable moment because, as Rabbi Alan Lew wrote, this is real and you are completely unprepared for it. And this is the moment when transformation is possible. This is the moment when creating a different future is possible.
Torah doesn’t turn away from the violent and horrific systems we create when we think of others as enemy. And at the same time, in the same passages, Torah presents alternatives. Two paths. This is how Torah calls us to understand these age-old stories, laws and teachings as wake ups in the middle of life’s challenges, indeed, in the most challenging moments. Choose, each of us, in every moment and encounter, whether you follow your instincts to kill or the call to the beauty of compassion. The Torah portion zigzags between the horrific and beauty. Kill, destroy, dominate. Or act with compassion and inclusion. Below are two videos elaborating on all of this.
Spiritual Themes and Forgiveness in Elul in Ki Teitzei:
Here is a previously published essays with more background on Ki Teitzei:
https://robertawall.substack.com/p/torah-at-the-intersectionki-teitzei?utm_source=publication-searc
And here is a prayer and practice from our friend and teacher, Reb Miles Krassen, for meeting our challenges in the field of life in Elul, this month of personal accounting:
A Prayer and Practice for Reuniting with the Shekhina in Elul
When you break out of the conventional way of relating to your challenges as a war, Be-ing who G-ds you places Herself in your hands, and you can redeem the spark of Shekhinah that was held captive within your unique challenge. (Devarim 21:10).
You will then be able to recognize the beauty of the Shekhinah even within her captivity and your passion will be aroused to liberate Her and merge with Her. (Devarim 21:11).
Invite Her into the depths of your soul, where she can reveal Her true nature and rid Herself of the fangs of judgment. (Devarim 21:12).
Once She has removed the disguise of Her captivity, let her dwell deep within you, arousing tears of teshuvah for the entire month of Elul, and then in the month of Tishri, you may fully merge with Her, in the way that consecrated lovers know they are One. (Devarim 21:13).
May we all be blessed to recognize our unique challenges
As opportunities to liberate sparks of Shekhinah.
May rescuing captive sparks become our passion.
May their liberation melt our Hearts
With holy tears of teshuvah for the whole month of Elul
That we may unite with our Beloved on Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur.
Amen.
— Rabbi Moshe Aharon Ladizhyner (aka Rabbi Miles Krassen) , 5766 Prayer
You can watch a recording of the session here. Please feel free to watch and share in your communities.
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