Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Head of the Yeshiva: Chizuk for the 8th of Elul
Rabbi Kanievsky asked him how he had received the scar. The young man related that he had saved a small girl in the Old City of Jerusalem. An Arab wielding an axe was chasing her after she had yelled something at him. Acting on the imperative of "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor," the young man hazarded his life and stepped in to fight the attacker. During the struggle, the attacker wounded him severely across the face. Despite medical efforts, the scar remained permanent. Because of this mark, no woman would marry him.
Parashat Ki Teitzei and the Laws of War
Good morning to everyone. Today is Friday, Erev Shabbat Kodesh, the 8th of Elul, 5786. We read the Torah portion of Ki Teitzei: "When you go out to war against your enemies, and Hashem your L-rd delivers them into your hands and you take captives..."
As is known, in the portion of Ki Teitzei there are, with the help of Hashem, blessed be He, 74 commandments—27 positive commandments and 47 negative commandments. This total corresponds to the numerical value of Ed (witness), signifying that these commandments serve as a testimony. What beautiful instructions and commandments the Torah gives us!
Erasing the Memory of Amalek
There is one special commandment that can be fulfilled on this Shabbat for anyone who has not yet merited to do so: the commandment of erasing the memory of Amalek. As the verse states, "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt." Usually, we read this passage in the month of Adar, but now it appears naturally in our weekly Torah portion, allowing one to fulfill the biblical obligation.
The Torah describes how Amalek attacked: even though he went out to war against Israel, he specifically targeted the stragglers—"and stragglers behind you." Who were these stragglers? They were individuals who had committed transgressions, causing the Cloud of Glory to expel them due to their sins. They were gripped by the nachash (snake). These were the vulnerable ones whom Amalek attacked.
Despite their spiritual state, the Torah commands: "Do not forget!" The divine throne is not complete, and Hashem's Name is not complete, until the memory of Amalek is entirely erased from the world. The verse states, "A hand is upon the throne (kes) of G-d (Yah)." The word kes is missing the letter Aleph (to spell Kissei, throne), and Hashem's Name appears only as Yah, missing the letters Vav and Hei from the Tetragrammaton—the letters representing His desired habitation. Only when Amalek is erased will Hashem be King over all the Earth, completing both the Name and the Throne.
Bringing Back the Distant
Why does the Torah place such emphasis on these stragglers? Because if they are brought back to holiness, they will find shelter beneath it once again. There is no such concept as a struggling youth belonging outside the Cloud permanently. They are merely experiencing a temporary state of weakness. Through bonds of love, warmth, and self-sacrifice, it is possible to bring them back into the embrace of their family, the embrace of our ancestors, and the continuous chain of generations.
There is no justification for taking a person and casting them away, no matter the circumstance. A temporary moment of weakness can be overcome; they can be restored, and everything can be mended.
Saving a Life: Returning a Lost Body
Another commandment in our portion states, "And so shall you do for the loss of your brother." Our Sages in the Talmud expounded that this obligation extends to saving a person's physical body (avedat gufo). A person can lose their soul or spirit by straying from a good path, but they can also lose their physical life.
Just as a person is commanded to exert effort and hire laborers to build a house or save themselves, there is an equal commandment to hire laborers and expend resources to save the physical body of one's fellow. If you see your fellow heading toward destruction, you must act immediately. Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor; save him!
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and the Hero's Scar
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky related a story about a young man who came to him in great distress. The young man explained that every prospective bride he met turned him down because he had a noticeable scar across his face.
Rabbi Kanievsky asked him how he had received the scar. The young man related that he had saved a small girl in the Old City of Jerusalem. An Arab wielding an axe was chasing her after she had yelled something at him. Acting on the imperative of "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor," the young man hazarded his life and stepped in to fight the attacker. During the struggle, the attacker wounded him severely across the face. Despite medical efforts, the scar remained permanent. Because of this mark, no woman would marry him.
Rabbi Kanievsky blessed him and gave him a piece of advice: "With the very next young woman you meet on a date, simply tell her your story, and may Hashem be with you."
The young man agreed. On his next date, the woman noticed the prominent scar on his face. After speaking for a short while, he said, "Regarding this scar, know that I received it while performing a great mitzva." He recounted how he had saved a helpless little girl from an attacker with an axe in the Old City.
As he spoke, the young woman became visibly overwhelmed and fainted. An ambulance was called, and after she was revived, she looked at him and revealed, "I was that little girl! I have searched for you ever since to do good by you."
They soon agreed to marry. Afterward, they visited specialized surgeons who performed an intricate procedure that successfully restored his face. When salvation arrives, full healing comes along with it.
The Roar of the Month of Elul
We are currently in the sacred days of Elul, regarding which it is said, "A lion has roared, who will not fear?" The days themselves are roaring with spiritual opportunity. Every day, a heavenly voice echoes from Mount Horeb, proclaiming, "Woe to the creations for the insult to the Torah!"
During the days of Elul and Rosh Hashanah, the spiritual atmosphere is charged. Anyone with attentive ears can hear the call: "Return, mischievous children! Return! Why would you forfeit such a gift?" In Elul, every heart is stirred to awaken from slumber, examine its deeds, and return to Hashem in repentance.
Furthermore, this period provides a unique opportunity to perform repentance out of love (teshuvah me-ahavah). When a person repents out of love, all their past intentional sins are transformed into merits. If someone who was previously unobservant repents out of love, every non-kosher meal they ate in the past is spiritually transformed as if they had eaten a portion of the Passover sacrifice. Everything is converted through love!
These days represent a bustling "market day." During a market day, goods are available at incredible bargains. At other times of the year, achieving deep repentance requires extensive effort and knocking on closed doors. Right now, during Elul, spiritual repair is granted with ease and grace.
Blessing and Shabbat Inspiration
May our learning serve for the complete healing of Eliyahu, son of Rivka.
This coming Shabbat also marks the anniversary of the passing (Yahrzeit) of Dan, the son of Yaakov, as well as the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin. May their merits protect us and all of Israel. Let us utilize this Shabbat with strength, fortitude, and joy. A person should avoid empty idle chatter on the Shabbat; instead, elevate the Shabbat table with inspiring words of Torah and meaningful discussion.