Parashat Ki Teitzei 2014/5774 (Triennial I) — Sinning: Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

In this week’s Torah portion, we read of the laws concerning marriage to a beautiful maiden who was captured in battle (Deuteronomy 21:10-14); dealing with unloved and loved sons from different mothers (Deuteronomy 21:15-17); and the handling of a rebellious and wayward son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

In Daat Z’kenim, an anthology of rabbinic interpretations from the Tosafot (12th-14th Centuries, France & Germany), conflation of these three laws are seen an example of “aveirah goreret aveirah,” of how a sin causes [one to commit] another sin” — when one takes a captured maiden as a wife, it will eventually lead to a rebellious son.

However, if that’s the case, why does the Torah ALLOW marriage to a captured maiden? If it’s a sin, shouldn’t it be forbidden? We will explore this question through the lens of the most famous example of this type of “sin leading to sin” — the rebellion of Absalom against King David (2 Samuel 13-18) to show how sinning is not so black and white.

Join us for this fascinating class as we lead up to the High Holy Days!

Picture from http://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/david-absalom/

Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class
Tag : Absalom captured women daat z'kenim Deuteronomy 21 high holidays Ki Teitzei king david online learning online parashah class rebellion of Absalom rebellious son sin sinning tosafot weekly torah portion