Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out
Torah Portion:
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
Deuteronomy 24:5–13
24:5 When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, nor shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.
6 No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.
7 If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.
8 Be careful in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do. 9 Remember what Hashem your Elohim did to Miriam, by the way as you came out of Egypt.
10 When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you. 12 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13 You shall surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It shall be righteousness to you before Hashem your Elohim.
Today’s Meditation:
Verse 6 is a curious commandment: “No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone as a pledge, for he takes a life in pledge.” After some research, it seems that Hashem is saying not to take another's livelihood as collateral (to pay a debt, etc.). To do so would deprive him of his ability to care for himself and his family. And leave him with nothing to sustain his family. Hashem doesn’t want us to do this. That’s how much He loves each of us. It is a protection that prevents someone from losing everything and becoming destitute. Again, one more example of Hashem's protection of the poor. And how we are to be involved with that process.
Today’s Challenge:
We learn today another lesson from Hashem about protecting the husband and wife and their relationship. If you are newly married, you are not required to serve in the army for at least a year. This is so beautiful. Think of how important that first year is in a marriage. How hard would it be to be apart from your new spouse, right after you got married? This is a clear indication that Hashem wants marriages to be good and solid.
Your challenge today is to look at your own marriage or that of a friend or family member. Have they had time together to solidify their marriage (or have you)? Have they (you) had a special time of at least one year to ground their marriage? If not, take the time to do so now. Or help the couple who have not had that special time do the same. Support marriages in your family and among your friends.
