LIBERATING A BEAUTIFUL SOUL - A NEW TAKE ON THE YEFAS TOAR
Ki Seitzei
Parshas Ki Seitzei is always read in the month of Elul, the month of spiritual reflection and Teshuvah. Already in the first Mitzvah of the Parsha we find lessons that apply to the service of this month:
Ki Seitzei begins with the perplexing Mitzvah of the Yefas Toar. The Torah prescribes the process by which a man may come to marry a woman that he finds amongst the captives taken in war.
The sages explain that the Torah “addresses the Yetzer Hara”, making this allowance so that a man may fulfil his desires in a permissible manner. Why would the Torah proscribe or allow such a thing?
Torah exists on deeper levels than just the literal meaning. The Or Hachaim explains that this Mitzvah has a unique, inner spiritual message, describing the paradigm for the journey of the Baal Teshuva; one who seeks to reclaim the purity of their soul.
When you go out to war against your enemies:
The war alludes to the battle which we must wage against our inner enemy, the Yetzer Hara, as our sages teach, the mighty one is one who conquers their Yetzer. The Yetzer Hara is our enemy and seeks our downfall, so at all times we must remain vigilent and strong.
And Hashem… will deliver him into your hand:
The Torah assures us that even though the Yetzer Hara is strong, if we put in our effort, Hashem will assist us and deliver us success.
And you will take captives:
This refers to taking back those souls and sparks of goodness that were taken by the Yetzer Hara.
And you will see amongst the captives a beautiful woman:
This refers to the Neshama, which is beautiful and pure. However, when taken captive by the Yetzer Hara, her beauty is lost and sullied by the affects of our sins and misdeeds. Once we have liberated our Neshama from the control of the Yetzer Hara, we will see her beauty and preciousness once again.
And you will bring her into your house:
Our house represents the body. Our sins, coming from the seductions of the Yetzer Hara, cause the Neshama to withdraw from the body, leaving a void that is filled with negativity. In redeeming our soul, we bring her back into our house, that the Neshama should be the driving force and will within our body.
And she shall shave her hair and clip her nails:
The Neshama’s enslavement in the sins of the Yetzer Hara leaves her defiled and tainted. This is represented by the Kelipah of the hair and nails which need to be removed and corrected. The Alter Rebbe explains that the hair - growing from the head - represents the Kelipah associated with the intellect. The nails extending from the hands, represent the corruption of the emotions of love and fear, represented by the right and left hand respectively).
And she shall remove the clothes of her captivity:
These are the garment created through sin. In Tanya, the Alter Rebbe explains that these are the soiled garments of forbidden thoughts, speech and deeds. They must be stripped from the Neshama.
And she shall sit in your house:
The house of a Jew is the Beis Midrash. It is not enough to redeem our soul and remove the garments of sin. We need to strengthen the Neshama through studying Torah.
And she shall cry for her mother and father:
The Father of the soul is Hashem and her mother is the collective body of the Jewish people. Through our sins, the Neshama became distanced and disconnected from her Father and mother and must mourn for this separation with tears of Teshuvah.
For a month of days:
This is the month of Elul, a month which is designated for and conducive to the Avodah of Teshuvah.
And then you may come to her and unite with her:
Through this process of Teshuvah, we acquire our soul back and can once again benefit from her light and beauty.
With Hashem’s help, may we be victorious in our battle and Avodah of Teshuvah and merit a Kesiva Vechasima Tovah, Leshana Tovah Umesukah.
Ki Seitzei begins with the perplexing Mitzvah of the Yefas Toar. The Torah prescribes the process by which a man may come to marry a woman that he finds amongst the captives taken in war.
The sages explain that the Torah “addresses the Yetzer Hara”, making this allowance so that a man may fulfil his desires in a permissible manner. Why would the Torah proscribe or allow such a thing?
Torah exists on deeper levels than just the literal meaning. The Or Hachaim explains that this Mitzvah has a unique, inner spiritual message, describing the paradigm for the journey of the Baal Teshuva; one who seeks to reclaim the purity of their soul.
When you go out to war against your enemies:
The war alludes to the battle which we must wage against our inner enemy, the Yetzer Hara, as our sages teach, the mighty one is one who conquers their Yetzer. The Yetzer Hara is our enemy and seeks our downfall, so at all times we must remain vigilent and strong.
And Hashem… will deliver him into your hand:
The Torah assures us that even though the Yetzer Hara is strong, if we put in our effort, Hashem will assist us and deliver us success.
And you will take captives:
This refers to taking back those souls and sparks of goodness that were taken by the Yetzer Hara.
And you will see amongst the captives a beautiful woman:
This refers to the Neshama, which is beautiful and pure. However, when taken captive by the Yetzer Hara, her beauty is lost and sullied by the affects of our sins and misdeeds. Once we have liberated our Neshama from the control of the Yetzer Hara, we will see her beauty and preciousness once again.
And you will bring her into your house:
Our house represents the body. Our sins, coming from the seductions of the Yetzer Hara, cause the Neshama to withdraw from the body, leaving a void that is filled with negativity. In redeeming our soul, we bring her back into our house, that the Neshama should be the driving force and will within our body.
And she shall shave her hair and clip her nails:
The Neshama’s enslavement in the sins of the Yetzer Hara leaves her defiled and tainted. This is represented by the Kelipah of the hair and nails which need to be removed and corrected. The Alter Rebbe explains that the hair - growing from the head - represents the Kelipah associated with the intellect. The nails extending from the hands, represent the corruption of the emotions of love and fear, represented by the right and left hand respectively).
And she shall remove the clothes of her captivity:
These are the garment created through sin. In Tanya, the Alter Rebbe explains that these are the soiled garments of forbidden thoughts, speech and deeds. They must be stripped from the Neshama.
And she shall sit in your house:
The house of a Jew is the Beis Midrash. It is not enough to redeem our soul and remove the garments of sin. We need to strengthen the Neshama through studying Torah.
And she shall cry for her mother and father:
The Father of the soul is Hashem and her mother is the collective body of the Jewish people. Through our sins, the Neshama became distanced and disconnected from her Father and mother and must mourn for this separation with tears of Teshuvah.
For a month of days:
This is the month of Elul, a month which is designated for and conducive to the Avodah of Teshuvah.
And then you may come to her and unite with her:
Through this process of Teshuvah, we acquire our soul back and can once again benefit from her light and beauty.
With Hashem’s help, may we be victorious in our battle and Avodah of Teshuvah and merit a Kesiva Vechasima Tovah, Leshana Tovah Umesukah.