‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Ki Setzei
“A woman shall not wear the garments of a man, and a man shall not wear the dress of a woman” (Devorim 22:5)
Targum Yonason writes: “The clothing of tzitzis and tefillin, which are affixed for men, should not be donned by women… for it distances one from before Hashem, your G-d, anyone who does these things.”
Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz zt’l noted that the Torah is reminding us that each person has his own mission to fulfill in life. For one person performing a certain task can be extremely holy, while for another person performing that same task can be considered an abomination. Every person needs to foster feelings of joy and appreciation for his own uniqueness and abilities. How can one compare himself to another if his role is so vastly different?! A man needs the constant spiritual injections of holiness that are garnered through wearing tefillin and tzitzis. A woman, however, does not require those measures, and, therefore, for her to wear tefillin and tzitzis can be deemed an abomination.
In life we must constantly remind ourselves of this concept. We are created with the gifts and tools we need, and therefore cannot compare ourselves to others.
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“You shall surely send away the mother and take the young for yourself, so that it will be good for you and you will prolong your days.” (Devorim 22:7)
Regarding two mitzvos the Torah promises longevity, honoring one’s parents, and Shiluach Hakan (sending away the mother bird in order to take its chicks).
The Vilna Gaon (Oros HaGra) explains that every person has positive character traits and negative character traits. Certain things may be easy for one person to do because he has a natural proclivity towards their fulfillment, yet hard for another person to whom such an act counters his nature.
True greatness is only achieved when one can demonstrate that all his actions are dictated by the Torah. If one can fulfill certain mitzvos with alacrity and excitement but he does not adequately perform other mitzvos which require opposite emotions, it does not prove his complete dedication to Hashem. He may only be performing those mitzvos which come easy to him and do not counter his personality.
The mitzvah of honoring one’s parents stems from feelings of love, appreciation, and compassion. The mitzvah of Shiluach Hakan however, entails a certain measure of cruelty, wherein one must overcome feelings of compassion in order to chase away the mother bird and leave its young vulnerable and alone.
The Torah promises longevity for one who fulfills both of these mitzvos which entail such diverse emotional responses in their fulfillment, because that demonstrates true loyalty and devotion to Hashem.
The Gra adds that this is why after Avrohom Avinu withstood the test of the akeidah and demonstrated his complete willingness to sacrifice Yitzchok to Hashem, Hashem said “Now I know that you are G-d-fearing” (Bereishis 22:12). Surely Avrohom had demonstrated incredible loyalty to Hashem before this point throughout his life. But Avrohom was the epitome of kindness and love. For him to even be ready to sacrifice his son required complete nullification of his very essence. When he showed that he was ready to do so, that was the ultimate demonstration of devotion to Hashem.
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“You shall not have in your pouch a weight and a weight – a large one and a small one … A perfect and honest weight you shall have… so that your days shall be lengthened…” (Devorim 25:13-16)
After the Torah delineates the commandments of a Torah-based society, the Torah states how abhorrent dishonesty is in the eyes of Hashem.
Chazal say that for all sins Hashem does not punish until a person has committed a certain measure of them. However, regarding dishonesty Hashem punishes immediately.
Rav Yonason Eibschutz explains that Hashem always punishes ‘measure for measure’. Therefore, if one is dishonest in his measurements in business, Hashem too does not measure his actions in the normal manner and causes retribution to be swifter than usual.
Based on this the Olas Chodesh explains that this is why the Torah exhorts us to have honest weights and measures “so that your days shall be lengthened.” If one is honest than Hashem will not be precise with his own judgment and punishment, and he will be blessed with longevity.
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Sources: Olas Chodesh – quoted in Otzar Chaim
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