Shalom Friends;
Our Parshat Ki Tetzei vort is being sponsored by Dov and Bracha Moses of Ramat Beit Shemesh who dedicate this vort Lilui Nishmas for Dov’s Father, Avraham ben Chaim Mordechai, z”l, Lilui Nishmas Dovid ben Shlomo, z”l, Lilui Nishmas Chaya Perel bat Chayim Mordechai, z”l, Refuah Sheima for Alta Leah bat Rivka, as well as dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim and their return home whole physically, mentally and spiritually as well as and for the liberation of all remaining hostages and for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Moses family, many thanks for your sponsorship and your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring (or as the case may be, co-sponsoring) a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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The Sapirstein Edition: Torah with Rashi’s Commentary (page 222) renders translation of our Parshat’s opening posuk with Rashi’s commentary:
“When you will go out to war against your enemies, and Hashem your G’d, will deliver them into your hand, and you will capture its [people as] captives” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 21, posuk 10)
“When you will go out to war.” The verse speaks of an optional war (1) {for in the war for the Land of Israel — It cannot be said “and you will capture its [people as] captives” for it has already said (2) — “You shall not allow any person to live.”(2)}
(1) Citing Sifrei 211. That is, wars other than those such as the war of the conquest of Canaan and the war against Amalek. These wars were not optional. They are fulfillments of Hashem’s Commandments.
(2) Refers to Sefer Devarim, Perek 20, posuk 16 (Translation rendered by The Sapirstein Edition: Torah with Rashi’s Commentary): “But from the cities of these peoples that Hashem… gives you as an inheritance, you shall not allow any person to live.”
The use of “When you will go out to war” implies a war initiated by Israel. (Rashi to Sotah 35b)
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, z”l presents a slightly different rendering to English of Sefer Devarim, Perek 21, posuk 10 with commentary in his sefer, “Kol Dodi” (page 278) :
“When you go out war against your enemies, and Hashem Kelokecha will give him into your hand, and you will capture a prisoner.”
The phrasing of this verse seems to imply a guarantee: Hashem will deliver your enemies into you hands. How can Torah offer such a blanket promise that every war will be victorious? Has Am Yisrael never been defeated?
Rashi says that the verse refers to an elective war, since it is forbidden to take captives in mandatory wars (wars dictated by Torah law, such as Yehoshua’s battles to oust the seven Canaanite nations).
…The Sages (Rabbi Feinstein citing Berachos 3b) taught that before a ruler was permitted to wage an elective war, he was required to consult the Urim V’Tumim, the stones on the breastplate of the Kohen Gadol, which would light up in patterns revealing Hashem’s will in the matter.
Obviously, they would undertake only those wars which were sanctioned by the Urim V’Tumim and which it said they would win. Thus the Torah could promise that the Jews would emerge victoriously from any elective war which was fought.
Aharon Yaakov Greenberg presents two commentaries on Sefer Devarim, Perek 21, posuk 10 in his sefer “Torah Gems – Volume 3 (pages 269 – 270) :
Why is it that here, when the Torah talks about going to war, it implies an immediate victory, while in Bamidbar, Perek 10, posuk 9 it states: “When you go to war in your land… and only then will you sound the Shofars and you will be remembered,” and only then will “you be delivered from your enemies”? Why is the passage here in the singular form, while that in Bamidbar is in the plural? One question, though, answers the other. In the verses here [referring to Sefer Devarim, Perek 21, posuk 10], which are all in the singular, the reference is to where all the Jews are united, and then, indeed, “Hashem your G’d, will deliver them into your hand.” Thus, our Sages tell us (citing Vayikra Rabbah 26) that even though the generation of Achav were idolaters, they nevertheless emerge victorious in their battles because they were united. However, the text in Bamidbar, which is in the plural, refers to a case where the people were divided among themselves, and then the battle will not go easily for them. (Aharon Yaakov Greenberg citing Shem Mi-Shimon)
The Kotsker Rebbi answered this question [re: above] as follows: When you attack the enemy in his land, “When you will go forth to war against your enemies,” you have a much better chance of succeeding, but if the enemy attacks you and you have to defend yourself, you will need Hashem’s mercy in order to win.
Today, we lack the Beit HaMikdash, we lack the Kohen Gadol and his vestments, including the Urim V’Tumim. How would we define Israel’s wars of survival of these seventy-seven years of her modern-day nationhood which this author views as Milchemet Shel Torah: “mandatory war” or an “elective war”? Specifically, How do we relate to the four or five major Israeli actions of the past fifty-eight years — The Six Day War, The Yom Kippur War, the rescue of the hostages held in Entebbe, current multi-front war of Simchat Torah, as well as the war within the war — the Twelve Day War against Iran’s military leaders, nuclear and uranium refining sites and their long-range ballistic missile manufacturing sites?
The Six Day War, the Entebbe hostage rescue, the Twelve Day War against Iran were pre-emptive actions, albeit each with great challenges, B’yad Hashem Israel was highly successful and earned great victories. The Yom Kippur War with Egypt’s and Syria’s joint attack of Israel across the Suez and into the Golan Heights, and the War of Simchat Torah with the barbarous, murderous, animalistic attacks across the Gaza border of the concert-goers and Israel’s border towns by Hamas and their collaborators resulting in over 1,200 deaths and their taking of over 250 hostages — far from great victories with the latter war still ongoing after 669 days (as of compiling this vort).
As the Kotsker Rebbi seems to indicate, and which had been long-standing Israeli policy for decades, until the command echelons of the IDF became ideological and agendized, pre-emptive wars were highly successful. But enemy “surprise” attacks on Israel, due to intelligence lapses, as Aharon Yaakov Greenberg cited above referring to the text in Bamidbar, where Am Yisrael is divided among themselves, as has been obvious by the actions of the Kaplan Group — not so! This faction’s discord regarding judicial reform in the months leading up to Simchat Torah, and by their actions throughout the war, i.e. the hostages at all costs including long-term national security. The hijacking of many of the hostage families to their agenda has led to many falling prey to fake news, Islamic propaganda and horrific Hamas videos of live, but emaciated hostages. As Tanach records; disunity, divisiveness, discord cost us the Beit HaMikdash and led to our Galut.
Israel’s fresh victory-oriented strategies in Gaza and attacks in Iran which demolished much of their nuclear facilities, scientists, military leadership, ballistic missiles and ballistic missile manufacturing facilities exemplify positive changes resulting from the appointments of a new defense minister and foreign minister. The pre-emptive actions against Iran are nothing short of miraculous, B’Yad Hashem.
However, the newly appointed military chief of staff, who seemed to be signaling a more zealous, diligent command structure and strategy based on valid understandings of their adversary’s intentions and concern for Israel’s sovereignty and security upon his appointment, now seems to be following in the footsteps of his predecessor in calling for an end to the war in Gaza short of complete victory and eradication of Hamas, i.e. snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and quite possibly sentencing the remaining living hostages to death to boot.
May we see our government and military become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.” And may see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May these words come to fruition B’Esrat Hashem.
Not withstanding the previous horrendous “ceasefires” and drips and drabs of hostages in exchange for thousands of bloody-handed terrorists, may it be that our Chayalim, regardless of the machinations of malfeasance and nonfeasance by their previous high command to date, but now under command of both a new defense minister and chief of staff, emerge totally victorious — eradicating from the face of the earth Hamas, Islamic Jihad, their other terrorist buddies, UNRWA and the so-called “innocent civilians” of Gaza who joined with Hamas in their murderous deeds. May our Chayalim, on multiple fronts, return home whole — physically, mentally and spiritually and that the Chayalim Liberate and bring home all remaining hostages B’Yad Hashem. May we see a Final and Decisive victory by our Chayalim, mandated by a government secure in it’s foremost service of and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif e permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them. B’Ezrat Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard and his family know only Simcha and fulfillment always as he approaches his sixth year at home in Eretz Yisrael. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recovery of the remains of Oron Shaul as should the remains of the other chayal from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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