In this weeks parasha, parashat ki teitzei, it mentions keeping the Jewish camp holy. In דברים perek כג Pasuk טו it says וְהָיָ֥ה מַחֲנֶ֖יךָ קָד֑וֹשׁ וְלֹֽא־יִרְאֶ֤ה בְךָ֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת דָּבָ֔ר וְשָׁ֖ב מֵאַחֲרֶֽיךָ. Make it so that Hashem only sees holy in your camp. Don't let him find anything bad/ unholy. The Sforno questions exactly what "unholy" is referring to. He says that it refers to ritual impurities along with anything that would be considered repulsive. What else may be considered unholy and something that they may have not been able to have in their camp?
In Devarim, Perek Chaf Gimmel, Pasuk 20, an example of something unholy that they cannot have in their camp is discussed. This is when it says that one may not give interest for the renting or borrowing of your item. Rash explains this by mentioning that the borrower may not pay interest to the lender. I think that this is a very legitimate unholy rule because if people are giving interest it may result in disagreements or other conflicts. Since, this is prohibited it is creating a more peaceful and holy environment.
ReplyDeleteIn the next pasuk, pasuk tet zayin, it refers to turning a slave in to his owner after he has run away and seeked refuge. Rashi quotes the Targum/Onklus, who describes this slave as a Jewish slave that has been sold to a gentile. But Rashi adds to this and says that this slave can also include a canaani slave who was sold outside of Israel who comes to seek refuge there. This is a very important rule to have, because not only does it reflect (or enforce) Bnei Yisrael's compassionate nature towards each other, it also encompasses other nations/Gentiles, which isn't always that common within the Jewish religion.
ReplyDeleteThe Pasuk says that we shouldn't allow unholy/shameful things in the camps of Bnei Yisrael. Many would think that shameful/unholy things would refer to one's behavior. However, the Iben Ezra takes this explanation a step further by saying "shameful/unholy" things not only apply to one's actions, but to shameful/inappropriate speech as well. We need to be extra cautious in the camps guarding our mouths and preventing ourselves from saying things that are impure.
ReplyDeleteIn Devarim Perek caf-gimel, pasuk tet-zayin, Bnei Yisroel are commanded to 'not deliver a slave to his master if he seeks refuge with you from his master'. The pasuk is telling us that if a slave escapes from his master, we should not bring him back to his master. Onkelos furthers the point by saying that even a Canani servant who escapes from an Israeli master, should not be brought back.
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ReplyDeleteMyjewishlearning.com brings the sifri who comments on the holy vs unholy things. The Sifri says that one should avoid idolatry, killing, blasphemy and gossip not only in a time of war but a time of peace as well. Doing these deeds would not constitute an appropriate dwelling place for the presence of Hashem. Instead, the sifri mentions Kashrut, morality and decency as things that should be commonly practiced to keep Hashems presence in their midst.
ReplyDeleteOne way to make the camp holy according to the Ramban is that you should make a bathroom outside the camp because the camp itself is like a mikdash Hashem.He compares the war camp to the camp the levieim stayed in which had schina and an aharon kodesh which proves how holy this camp is. We wouldnt want to go the bathroom in a holy place just as we try our best not to go to the bathroom during davvening because we are being holy and talking to Hashem.
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