Parshat Ki Tizeh; Deut. 21:10 -25:19 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger
As we are in the month of Elul, the last month of the Jewish calendar, we are to take seriously the task of preparation and introspection in anticipation of the New Year which will soon be upon us. We are supposed to begin the cheshbon hanefesh—taking an accounting of our soul. We are to look inward at our deeds and actions in the past year and begin the process of teshuvah—repentance and turning our life around in a new direction. We are supposed to look closely at our relationships and clean up those problem areas of hurt feelings, grudges, perceived wrongs, and slights not only foisted upon us but those we have foisted upon others. And of course not only are we to examine the state of our relationships with other people, we are also to examine our relationship with God. Ask yourself who have I hurt with my words? Who have I disappointed this year? Is there someone with whom my manner has been brusque or someone who I feel has wronged me? Have I ignored my relationship with God? Have I asked God for help in repairing my spirit and attitude?
This is a lot of work to do in these hot summer final weeks!
Perhaps our mindset is more on vacation and taking advantage of long summer evenings than this kind of important work. Yet this is precisely the best time! School is out for the most kids, perhaps your children are even away at camp. At work people are in and out on vacations and so perhaps the usual office dramas and traumas are lessened. And those that have returned from vacation are often in a better mood than when they left having had some renewal time. Even if we are on vacation ourselves –giving ourselves permission to think more deeply about our own spiritual needs and the spiritual environment we create for ourselves through our relationships with others is excellent vacation work and precisely because you are not having to deal with some day to day pressures of work life, you might allow yourself the luxury of some time to reflect!
Interestingly our Torah portion this week, Ki Tizeh there is an interesting passage about what happens if you find someone’s ox or sheep that has gone astray. The torah tells us “Do not ignore it you must take it back to your fellow” (22:1) This is good advice for all those relationship nuances as well. Do not ignore it. Pay attention and if your relationship with your neighbor, co-worker, partner, spouse, brother, child, aunt, parent, friend, cousin, employee, boss, has gone astray—Do not ignore it. Take it back to your fellow! Now is the season of repair, repentance and yes, even forgiveness. Just as the portion tells us to return the ox or sheep to its owner if possible –we too are to get our relationships in balance and in their proper places, if possible.
This includes not only our relationships with other people but with God. So as the month of Elul is here and Rosh Hashanah only a few weeks away—let us not ignore the work that needs to be done in setting our relationship in the right frame and balance. Even in the hot final days of August allow yourself some time for consideration and thinking and reflecting. Come Yom Kippur –you will definitely be glad to have done so!
Posted by Aaron at August 20, 2007 09:57 AM
