10 Sep PARASHAT KI TESEH: LIVING WITH SENSITIVITY

One of the Misvot
presented in
Parashat Ki-Teseh
is the prohibition
against plowing a
field with both an ox and a donkey
(22:10). In ancient times, plowing
was done by harnessing the plow
to an animal, and then steering the
animal throughout the field. The Torah
forbids having an ox and donkey plow
together.
What is the reason behind this
prohibition?
The Rabbis explain that an ox, unlike
a donkey, chews its cud. This means
that after an ox chews and swallows its
food, the food returns to its mouth to
be chewed again. If an ox and donkey
would plow together, the donkey
would see the ox chewing well after
they had both been fed. This would
cause the donkey distress, as it would
think that the ox is eating while it is
being denied food.
The lesson of this Misva extends

well beyond the limited context
of plowing. We all know people
whom, for whatever reason, we
do not particularly like, perhaps
for legitimate reasons. However,
it is highly improbable that those
people are less than a donkey. And
so if the Torah commands us to
show sensitivity to the feelings of a
donkey, then certainly, we must show
sensitivity to other people, even those
whom we are not particularly fond
of. The Torah demands that we refrain
from offending or hurting our fellow,
regardless of how we feel about him. If
sensitivity is required toward animals,
then how much more so is it required
when dealing with other people, and
especially with our fellow Jews, the
children of Abraham, Yishak and
Yaakob.
The Rabbis noted different allusions to
the month of Elul in Tanach, allusions
which reveal to us the essence of this
special month and our obligations as we
prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom

Kippur. The most famous allusion,
of course, appears in the verse, “Ani
Le’dodi Ve’dodi LI” – “I am for my
Beloved, and my Beloved is for me”
(Shir Hashirim 6:3), the first letters
of which spell the word “Elul.” A
lesser known Biblical reference to
Elul appears in Megilat Ester (9:22),
where we read of the obligations of
“Mishloah Manot Ish Le’re’ehu
U’matanot La’ebyonim” – sending
food packages to one’s fellow, and
giving charitable gifts to the poor,
on Purim. The first letters of the
words “Ish Le’re’ehu U’matanot
La’ebyonim” spell the word “Elul.”
This allusion reminds us that
repentance involves not only our
ritual obligations toward G-d, such
as Shabbat observance, prayer and
Torah study – as critically important as
all these of course are – but also our
interpersonal conduct. Our work to
improve ourselves during this month
must focus on both realms – Ben
Adam La’Makom (our obligations to

Hashem) and Ben Adam La’habero
(our obligations to other people). The
phrase “Ish Le’re’ehu U’matanot
La’ebyonim” refers to our looking
out for others, and our efforts to help
them with whatever they need. As we
strive during this month to grow and
improve, let us heighten our awareness
of “Ish Le’re’ehu,” of other people’s
needs and concerns, and commit to
live with sensitivity to all people, no
matter who they are.