We would love to study parasha with your family. Please see the stories and questions below.
Story 1
Ki Tetzei
“When there will be a rebellious child” (21:18).
I read the following story in On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz, by Arthur Kurzweil (pages 190-191).
Arthur Kurzweil had the honor of driving Rabbi Steinsaltz, zatzal, around on his visits to New York for 25 years. On one trip Arthur received a phone call from a principal of a major Jewish Day School. The principal requested that Rabbi Steinzaltz visit his school on a Friday afternoon. He promised to have the entire school waiting in the auditorium to catch a few minutes with the great rabbi.
Rabbi Steinsaltz had a very tight schedule so when he arrived at the school he was immediately ushered in and asked to address the students.
He spoke in a whisper to the students.
He said, “There are so many subjects that I know so little or nothing about. But I do know a little bit about Torah study. So I would like to offer you some words of advice regarding your Torah studies. My advice to you is this: make the lives of your teachers as miserable as you possibly can.”
The students sat in shock, as did their instructors. Nobody laughed, nobody coughed, nobody moved.
Rabbi Steinsaltz repeated, “Make the lives of your teachers as miserable as you possibly can. Make their lives miserable. Ask them some questions that you don’t think they can answer. Try to find contradictions in things they say and ask them to justify these contradictions. Try to find books that ask particularly difficult questions about the subjects you are studying and ask your teachers these questions. Make the lives of your teachers as miserable as they possibly can.”
Then the rabbi concluded, “Thank you very much.” Since he was on a tight schedule the rabbi then hurried off the stage.
The principal rushed to the podium to thank Rabbi Steinsaltz for his visit. “Boys and girls, I want to thank Rabbi Steinsaltz for visiting…but I want to say, please don’t take Rabbi Steinsaltz too literally.”
By this time Rabbi Steinsaltz had nearly been out of the auditorium. When he heard what the principal said, he rushed back to the stage and spoke again.
This time he no longer whispered. Now he raised his voice and thundered:
“Boys and girls, I have so often been misquoted by journalists over the years, but I don’t want to be misquoted here. My advice to you is this, make the lives of your teachers as miserable as you possibly can.”
Rabbi Steinsaltz then walked off the stage and waved to the children.
Question:
Recently John Lewis said, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.” Do you think his message is similar to what Rabbi Steinsaltz said?
Story 2
Lo tizrah karmekhah kelaim, do not plant a second seed in your vineyar (22:9).
This is the prohibition of planting a non-grape seed in your vineyard. The actual prohibition is not only to plant it, but also to allow the seed and the grapevine to exist together and to maintain it on your property. The Torah views nature as having a life of its own that we need to protect and keep holy. See for example, Devarim 20:19.
Here is a story that Rabbi Avi Weiss told me.
When Rabbi Weiss’ granddaughter, Ariella, was five years old he was standing with her in shul and asked her what was her favorite part of the shul. Ariella looked out at the trees and pointed to them. Her favorite part of the shul were the trees that overlooked the shul.
Rabbi Weiss explained to Ariella that there is a tradition from Rebbe Nachman that every single blade of grass has its own neshama. So too, we must imagine as if every tree has its own soul. He told Ariella that if we listen closely we can hear the trees singing to each other.
Soon after that Rabbi Weiss and Ariella left the shul to walk home. As they were walking on the street, Rabbi Weiss was offering hugs to all who came up to him and wished them a Good Shabbas. Upon seeing this Ariella ran over to a beautiful tree and hugged it. She said to the tree, “Good Shabbas tree!”
Question: Why do you think the Torah prohibits us from planting a seed with a grapevine?
Do you have any good stories for an upcoming parasha? Please email me rabbishmuel@ostns.org
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Parasha Questions by Maharat Friedman
Download a printable version here.
This week’s parsha, Ki Teitze, contains some strong themes. I intentionally avoided some verses when preparing this sheet. If your child has any questions about those verses we encourage you to have an honest conversation with them. The clergy are also always available to help guide these conversations.
Aliyah 1: 21:10-21
1. The second case in this aliyah teaches us what to do if a man only likes one of his two wives. What is he supposed to do in this situation? Why do you think this case is in the Torah?
2. Pasuk 21:18 introduces the laws of the ben sorer u’moreh, or the defiant child. What is so bad about this child? Why does the Torah punish him so strongly?
Aliyah 2: 21:22-22:7
1. 22:1-3 teach us what to do if we find something that another person has lost. What should we do if we find one of these things? Do you think this is a good system? What should happen if the owner is never found?
2. 22:6-7 teach us the laws of shiluach hakan, or sending away the mother bird to take her eggs. Under which circumstances should this law apply? Why do you think the Torah teaches it?
Aliyah 3: 22:8-23:7
1. 22:9-11 are classic examples of chukim, or laws that are decrees from God and do not appear to have any logic behind them. These specific laws prohibit different types of mixing. What are the three mixtures that are prohibited? Can you think of any reason that they might be prohibited?
2. 23:4-7 prohibit us from for allowing anyone from Ammon or Moav into the Jewish community. What reason does the Torah give for this?
BONUS QUESTION!!!! Rut was from Moav, and she was allowed to convert and marry Boaz! What reason do our rabbis give to explain this?
Aliyah 4: 23:8-23:4
1. 23:8-9 have different rules for an Egyptian and Edomite than for an Ammonite or Moabite. Why?
2. 23:20-21 teaches us the laws of charging interest. What is interest? Why do you think we can’t charge interest to our countrymen?
Aliyah 5: 23:25-24:4
1. What rules do 23:25-26 teach us? Do those rules surprise you? Why or why not?
2. What do you think these rules are teaching us about how we treat each other’s property?
Aliyah 6: 24:5-13
1. Why does the Torah teach us that a man does not have to go to war in the first year of his marriage?
2. What is a pledge for a loan, as described in verses 10-13? What are the limitations placed on the pledge? Why?
Aliyah 7: 24:14-25:19
1. Psukim 19-21 teach us some of the agricultural laws about helping the orphan, the stranger, and the widow. What are these laws? Why is it important that verses 18 and 22 are the book-ends for these laws?
2. 25:13-16 teaches us the importance of having honest weights. What are honest weights? Why aren’t we allowed to even keep dishonest weights in our home?
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Daf Yomi for Kids
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