The Sedra Ki Tietzeh 5781

This week we find ourselves in Parshat Ki Tietzeh, where we encounter a vast array of mitzvot that teach us how to live a holy life. Among these is the command to build a fence around your roof to ensure that no one falls and suffers harm. Rashi points out a fascinating connection between this mitzvah and the command to send away the mother bird before taking her eggs. He teaches us that if we fulfill the easy mitzvah of sending the bird away, we will eventually be privileged to build a new house and fulfill the mitzvah of the fence. This reveals a profound truth: the real reward for a mitzvah is the opportunity to do another one. By showing sensitivity to a small creature, we develop the character needed to protect the lives of our fellow human beings. The Torah demands that we cultivate this deep sensitivity toward all life. Shabbat Shalom.