Weekly Sidra: Ki Teitzei (When you Go)
Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19
Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 54:1–54:10
I recall when my wife and I first met I couldn’t wait to see her and wanted to spend every waking minute talking with her. We were in love.
I am happy to say that 22 years later we are still going. We have had our share of difficulties and trials, but with HaShem’s help we have seen it through.
Today we are surrounded by constant reminders of infidelity and divorce. It has become an all too common event in our lives. Whether on television or in the paper love is another commodity to be bought, sold or just thrown away like an old rag. There was even a marriage between an actress and a basketball player that lasted a grand total of 72 hours.
In this week’s haphtarah portion the question is posed: “Can one cast off the wife of his youth?” Verse 6. The answer from HaShem is absolutely, No!!
“For a little while I forsook you,
But with vast love I will bring you back.
In slight anger, for a moment,
I hid My face from you;
But with kindness everlasting
I will take you back in love. V 7, 8
There are many who think that HaShem is done with Israel and the Jewish people and nothing could be further from the truth.
As Isaiah states at the end of this reading:
For the mountains may move
And the hills be shaken,
But my loyalty shall never move from you,
Nor My covenant of friendship be shaken — said the Lord, who takes you back in love.
That is a promise that all who are part of His covenant can share!!