August 13, 2013

A D’var Torah in honor of the Yarhtzeit of Shlomo Henoch ben Mordechai Chaim

This week’s parasha is Ki Tezey, which covers a tremendous number of mitzvot. They almost seem to be random, with topics covered from ethics in war time to the infamous Ben Sorer U Moreh (A wild and unruly son, which apparently never happened in real life). As we go through the parasha, we find a very interesting and in some ways strange mitzvah, known as “Shiluach HaKen”:  

If you come across a birds's nest on any tree or on the ground, and it contains baby birds or eggs, then, if the mother is sitting on the chicks or eggs, you must not take the mother along with her young. Ki yikare kan-tsipor lefaneycha baderech bechol-ets o al-ha'arets efrochim o veytsim veha'em rovetset al-ha'efrochim o al-habeytsim lo-tikach ha'em al-habanim.
22:7 You must first chase away the mother, and only then may you take the young. [If you do this] you will have it good, and will live long. Shale'ach teshalach et-ha'em ve'et-habanim tikach-lach lema'an yitav lach veha'arachta yamim.

On surface this looks very straightforward; if you see a birds nest, don’t take the chicks in front of the mother. The reason is, why? If we are allowed to use the chicks or the eggs for food, then why is does G-d care whether we take the chicks in front of the Mother Bird? What does this teach us? There are a large number of commentaries on this; Rashi says that this mitzvah, which seems simple, teaches us that there is as much value to performing a minor act as performing a larger or more difficult mitzvah (more on this later). Ramban comments that there is a tremendous value in this action; it teaches us not to be ruthless, rather to have compassion, to be understanding and to think of others, even if the other seems as small and insignificant as a bird. The Netziv quotes another source that stresses that this mitzvah teaches the aspect of mercy, which is important to apply to creatures as well as to people.

The most striking part of this mitzvah is the fact that there it ends with a potential reward: Arichat Yamim or Long life. This is very curious, as so few mitzvoth actually are accompanied by a proviso, an explanation or a reward. What is even more curious is that this same reward comes up in another place: in the mitzvah of Kibbud Av Va’Em, or honoring parents, found in the 10 Commandments in Parashat V’etchanan (and in a similar text in Yitro). This makes the entire construct very puzzling. How could the same reward be given for Shiluach HaKen, chasing a mother bird away as you take her eggs, as for honoring one’s parents, who gave life to you? This is why Rashi makes the statement that it is beyond our understanding as to which mitzvah is important in the eyes of G-d; the simplest or the most complex can have the same level, thus we should be attentive to all the mitzvoth.

Honoring parents is not a simple commandment. It is easy, just due to familiarity, to have a very casual attitude about this important commandment. In fact, if it was self-evident, it may not have even been important enough to include in the 10 commandments. Yet not only is it there, it is in the first 5, which are otherwise commandments between Man and G-d. This makes a fundamental principal for living a proper life. Clearly, the importance one gives to Kibbud Av V’Em is truly a reflection of how one views his relationship with his creator, since parents are those who have brought us to the world. Respect for parents mirrors respect for G-d, for the process of creation, and for the time and effort that has been put into bringing up children.

Dad/Zeida was an amazing role model for this. I remember to my early childhood, every evening at 7 PM there was a phone call to Bubbie Jennie (“Halo; Hawarya?”; I am not sure why he needed to use her accent!) Dad would also be there Tuesday nights to drive his father to the Hebrew Free Loan, where Zeida Max was an integral member of this important community organization for years. He took care of his parents when they were older, taking turns with Uncle Peter for feeding and visiting when their mother was in Villa Mount Royal. This also translated to how he treated his in-laws as well. Respecting parents was clearly a given, almost as natural as breathing for Sid. Perhaps this is why we were able to witness a true miracle; a man with a good heart being given a second chance, and having Arichat Yamim long beyond what was predicted for someone with the similar medical condition.

As we approach his third Yarhtzeit, let us use these opportunities to focus on Mitzvot and especially on our relationships with others, especially our parents should we be blessed to have this opportunity. May the memory of Shlomo Henoch Ben Mordechai Chaim be a blessing for all and may we always learn from his wisdom and deeds.