The War Within (Ki Teitzei 5782)

A common trait we share, facing no distinction in race, color, or social economic, is the inner struggle with ourselves, the war within. To be human is to have that voice that often sounds like an enemy. The voice that is critical, jealous, the one that leads us to temptation, sin or letting ourselves down. The voice within is our animal soul speaking. The less refined self because it is that, an animal. Like an animal it behaves in a way to satisfy its physical need, it craves, gorges, indulges, and it is the opposite of purposeful. This is the part of us we must go to war with. The message of this week’s parsha, Ki Seitzei, is about waging war with the animal in us. Going to war with the objective of winning and not looking back. “If you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord, your God, will deliver him into your hands, and you take his captives”

War Within: Inner Struggle Quiets “if”

From this verse, it is given “if” because it is not determined that we will choose to go to war, we are born with free will. We choose everyday on a consistent basis if we fight. And “if” we choose to go to war, it is necessary to go all in, knowing we are going to win. If we are determined to, if we believe we will then we will. After victory, we must leave no trace of the temptation, we are asked to look at the behavior as repulsive so that we are disgusted by it. Only this way we will not desire it. We learn this when it says that the captive we have won over during our war, the beautiful woman, should be made to look repulsive. “You shall bring her into your home, and she shall shave her head and let her nails grow”. Her beauty and the desire that accompanies her, will vanish. We will not want to be near the temptation. Our animal desires will not exist to something we see as abominable. This is really when the fight is won, when the struggle becomes pitiful. When we look back and can feel compassion for having been there. There is a sense of empowerment.

Taming of the Shrew

The Animal soul is an antagonist we fight with because of it’s unrefined ways, it’s pitiful ways and tactics it uses. Each to their own self defeating ways. Yet, we also know that even this animal soul is a gift from G-d because if we tame it, if we train it to listen and follow the divine in us, it becomes a powerful carriage that takes us to our mission. Part of our journey then becomes taming the animal so that we can be driven by the divine mission. How is this accomplished, how can we tame the animal? The next sections of the parsha speaks about mitzvahs, commandments. Another word for mitzvahs is connection, this is also a deeper meaning for what they are. These commandments are a tool for connection, our divine soul connects with the higher power and its purpose. The performance of the commandments brings us to a state of bitul, surrender of the animal so that the divine can recharge. The inner struggle quiets down when it’s in awe. Only the majesty of the divine can achieve that.

Let Go and Let G-d In

To hear less of ourselves, we have to get out of ourselves by surrendering to the performance of mitzvahs. Through the practice of doing something not because we want to but because it’s commanded, because it’s G-d’s will, the animal learns. We train the animal to not be so loud and have an opinion about everything. The inner struggle dims. If this practice it’s lacking, and if no good deeds are being done for others, the animal takes us on a trip. The animal creates its realities because at the end of the day it acts like an uneducated child. To educate the child takes time and effort, but it’s the only way. We were given a mission to fulfill and to achieve it, the child needs to listen to mommy and let her guide. In this week’s parsha we are reminded we have an animal in us in which war must be waged against. Mitzvahs are the tool to serve and let the divine shine.