Ki Taytse - כי תצא - When you Go Out to War

Parshas Ki Taytse deals with the art of war. It begins with the laws concerning seizing a woman captive and taking her as a war bride. The parsha continues by describing a situation in which a man has a beloved wife and hated wife and the hated wife is the mother of the man's first born son.  Rashi explains that the context is one of an allowable war (מלחמת הרשות) for the greater glory of Israel as opposed to one that is mandatory. He continues that if the soldier carries out his intention to marry his captive, he will come to hate her.

In this case the Chumash rules the rights of the man's first born son can not be annulled because his mother is hated. The Sforno explains that the rights of the first born can be forfeited if he is not good. He brings the story of Reuven who profaned his father's bed; thereby causing his privileges to be transferred to others. The Ibn Ezra, however, understands the beloved wife as being beloved to her husband but not to Hashem, and the hated wife as fair in the eyes of Hashem.

The Or HaChaim compares the hated wife to Leah emanu (אמנו – our mother) and brings the verse, "Hashem saw that Leah was hated", (Bereshis 29:31). She resembles a war captive as well. When Ya'akov avinu adopts Ephraim and Menasha as his own tribes, he explains to Yosef that he is giving him an additional portion that he took from the Amori with his sword and bow (Genesis 48:22). Rashi explains that the Amori was Esau because he behaved like one of them. What is the sword and bow of Ya'akov? According to Rashi it is his wisdom and prayer. As a result, when Ya'akov's wisdom and prayer prevailed against Esav, he merited not only his portion in Torah but his bashert (Yiddish – באשערט, soul mate), Leah, as well.

Ya'akov's fundamental portion in Torah included tsidkus (Yosef), the land of Israel (Benyamin), and wisdom (Yissacher). Esav's portion included the king (Yehuda) and the priesthood (Levy). However, the vehicle for Esav's portion was Leah. Ya'akov's love for Rachel, though, was exclusive, therefore he would not take another woman unless forced to do so. This is why Lavan's trick worked. In the end Ya'akov received a beautiful wife and grew to love her and her children as well.

The precept that a person should not be demeaned because of the sins of others is reinforced by the mitzvah that a son is not to be executed because of the sins of his father rather a man should die for his own sins only (Devarim 24:16). The Sforno adds that this even applies when the father is killed because of rebellion against the king. The idea is that one can reasonably expect that the sons share the father's point of view or that they will want to avenge his death. Even in this case king is forbidden to move against the son, particularly if it appears that he is loyal.

In essence victory in war often brings unpredictable change. In the heat of battle it is possible for a tsadik to be seduced by a pretty dress, make up, and a nice hairstyle. His second wife may be unwelcome competition to his true love. In addition the newcomer's children can wind up in superior positions. However if the cause is just and meritorious, the victorious soldier will come to love the new additions along with the gains he originally went to war for.

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Discussion of a woman captured in war and how it relates to Leah, our Matriarch

Zum Gali Gali is sang at 5:50