While Ki Teitzei might be the first Torah portion for this school year, overall it is the 49th Torah portion. Of the 613 total mitzvot, 74 are featured in this week’s parshah. In comparison with other parshiot, Kit Teitzei is overwhelming in terms of detail and nuance in every single example. 

Of all the laws to point out, Rabbi Sacks says this: “One of the laws among a series of miscellaneous laws about inheritance, rebellious sons, overladen oxen, marriage violations and escaping slaves, Moses delivers a command so counterintuitive that we must read it twice to make sure we have heard it correctly:” “Do not hate an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land.”

It is something so short, but as Rabbi Sacks puts it, also counterintuitive. The Israelites were slaves in the land of Egypt, subjected to hard labour, and  even forced by the Pharoah to throw every male Israelite child born into the river.

Even though all this occurred, Moses essentially is saying that the Israelites should be grateful to have been shown hospitality in Egypt, almost as if they were guests. But why is Moses even saying this. Why shouldn’t the Israelites be angry?

Rabbi Sacks explains that “To be free, you have to let go of hate. That is what Moses is saying.” If the Israelites were to continue their hatred of  the Egyptians, even after 40 years of wandering in the desert, in their minds they would still be the  slaves of their oppressors, bound by hate. Their minds would be  so fixated on the past, they wouldn’t be able to move on, into the land of Canaan. You cannot create a society on the basis of hate.

In the same way, our school as a society cannot function to its fullest if we still hold grudges, or partake in hateful actions or speech. It might be a cliche piece of advice, but Rabbi Sacks states:  “You must live with the past, but not in the past. Those who are held captive by anger against their former persecutors are captive still.” For such a tight knight community like our school, I know how much of an impact holding a grudge can make. With the advent of a new school year, it is a fresh start. Forgive and let go of grudges or mistakes. We need to forgive ourselves for everything we did last year, whether it be related to academics or not, and for the mistakes that are yet to be made, forgive ourselves for those   as well. 

In  Pirkei Avot, it says this, “Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said, (referencing Proverbs 16:32)  “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city”. The same idea by Rabbi Sacks is pointed out, where it seems counterintuitive to forgive, but being “slow to anger” is exactly counterintuitive, it’s not something that is easy. For me, all this brings to mind the latin phrase “vincit qui se vincit” - he conquers who conquers himself. Conquering ourselves. Ruling our spirit. That was the main idea in the commandment “Do not hate an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land.”

As we step into this new school year, let us let go of our grudges, choose forgiveness over resentment, and become conquerors of ourselves.

Shabbat Shalom

Written by Peter, Grade 12