RaYBaSH’s Ponderings of the Pentateuch
Parashah # 49 Ki Teitzei “When You Go Out”
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 21:10-25:19
By: Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr
Deut. 23:7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
Some say Edom is the white man, others say he is the Arab; regardless of who Edom is now, he was Esau (Gen. 25:30) and he wanted to do terrible things to his brother Jacob (Gen.27:41). And Edom’s descendants did do terrible things to Jacob’s descendants. But G-d said not to hate them.
Any one who knows me knows that I believe that Jews and Hebrews are a rainbow of colors. I believe in black Jews/Hebrews as well as white Jews/Hebrews. But I do not endorse or condone religious or spiritual racism among white or black adherents. It is okay to hate what one does to or against you, but it is not right to proclaim, just as some black Jews/Hebrews claim, that Edom is the white man that enslaved them. Nor is it acceptable for the white Jews/Hebrews to erroneously claim that the black man is a result of the curse of Noah upon Canaan. We are not to bare false witness or sow discord among the brethren (Ex. 20:16, Prov. 6:19). We are not to hate, just as Israel who was enslaved by Egyptians were not to hate Egyptians. Because one day Egypt will become our brothers.
Isa. 19:25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed [be] Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
Again, it is okay to hate what one does, but not hate the person.
We must recall that Egypt saved Israel before they enslaved Israel and that it was Egypt who raised Moses and it was Egypt who kept Messiah safe (Matt. 2:13-25) and it is Egypt who will one day be called the people of G-d (Isa. 19:25).
Forgiveness and mercy form the Golden Rule (Lev. 19:18, Matt. 7:12).
Ex. 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Ex. 23:9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Lev. 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Our Haftarah portion also highlights love, forgiveness and acceptance.
Isa. 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
We must all remember and be aware that our brother can be our enemy and that our enemy may one day be our brother and love which breeds forgiveness, covers a multitude of sin (I Pet. 4:8).
Shabbat Shalom and Shavuah Tov!
-- Rabbi Yehudah
Missions Trip 2011: Nigeria
I am planning a return trip in November of 2011.
If just 100 people would give $30.00 I would have enough to cover my trip to Nigeria.
You can see photos of my trip to Nigeria, labeled “Nigeria 2010,” on my facebook profile:
In the service of the God of Israel,
Shalom,
Founder and CEO of RaYBaSH Ministries and A.D. International,
-- Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr
