Deut. 21:10 - 25:19
Précis: The parasha might be subtitled “entering society” because it describes the creation of a just and moral social network. It begins with the phrase “when you go forth” (ki tetze) to battle. This parasha, according to Maimonides, contains 72 mitzvot and cover a wide variety of topics, from family life, human kindness, fair business and employment practices, respect for property and animals, the safety of others, sexual relationships, escaped slaves, financial loans and charging interest, keeping promises, and remembering to blot out the name of one of Israel’s greatest enemies. This assortment of commands included requirements that there be sex-distinct clothing; that mother birds not be separated from their eggs; that roof-tops have parapets; that seeds not be mixed in a field, and that “tzitzit” (fringes) be worn on garments.
Deut. 24:14 “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a stranger in one of the communities of your land.”
We observed Labor Day this past week, a time when we traditionally honor those who provide their labor for the benefit of all. I did read that more than a million Americans Googled trying to find out why we have this holiday.
In present-day America, how we treat “needy and destitute” laborers, particularly those who are strangers (non-citizens) in our communities, is one of the most divisive issues. The current occupant of the White House has his simple (simple minded?) solution: expel them, whether they are culpable of criminal activity or have contributed by their labor over decades. Despite the President’s lip service to “good” agricultural workers, the masked agents of ICE have continued their roundups, their incarcerations, and expulsions.
As Jews, we should be proud that our tradition stands in stark contrast to the actions of the current administration. As we also read in this week’s parasha, “You shall not remain indifferent” (Deut. 23:3).
