18 Aug PARSHAS KI SEITZEI: UNUSUAL SPELLING

Unusual Spelling
Calls Out For Our
Attention
This week’s parsha
contains the mitzvah
of sending away the
mother bird prior to
taking her chicks or eggs [22:6-7] (Shiluach
HaKen). According to the commentaries, one
of the reasons for this Commandment is to
teach us the attribute of compassion. The
Ramba”n is careful to explain that this is not
an “animal rights” type of mitzvah. Rather,
the Torah is trying to teach compassion to
mankind. If we must have compassion for
animals, certainly we must have compassion
for human beings. That is the ultimate
‘purpose’ of this mitzvah.
The pasuk begins with the words “Ki Yikareh
Kan Tzipor” [when you happen upon a bird’s
nest]. We would assume that the word
Yikareh [happen upon] should be spelled
with the letter ‘Hay’ at the end of the word
(from the root Kuf-Reish-Hay [meaning to
happen]). However, that is not the way the
word is spelled. The word is spelled with an

Aleph at the end — from the root Kuf-Reish-
Aleph (meaning to call out). There is no

doubt that the intent of the pasuk is that the
person happens upon a bird’s nest. But,
literally translated, this pasuk reads “If a
bird’s nest is called out to you”. What is the
meaning of this? Why did the Torah use this
strange spelling?
The sefer Kol Dodi offers a beautiful insight
regarding this spelling. It is not every day that
one encounters a bird’s nest. This is a unique
event. In fact, it is suggested that this
Commandment has mystical benefits
(segulah), such that one who is childless
should seek to fulfill it and thereby receive
the Heavenly blessing of parenthood. It is
certainly not an everyday event. Who of us
can say that we have ever had the opportunity
to fulfill this mitzvah?
A person is walking along and all of a sudden
a bird’s nest happens to appear in front of
him. This is not just a “happenstance”. The
mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen is calling out to
him! Perhaps this unusual occurrence is G-d’s
way of calling out to the person that he needs
personal correction in his attribute of
compassion. If it HAPPENS (yikareh with a
Hay) that this person, of all people, runs into

this singular event, then what has really
occurred is a Yikareh with an Aleph — the
teaching of the law of the mother bird’s nest
is CALLING OUT to him that he should take
note: perhaps his practice of the attribute of
compassion needs improvement.
Many times we miss our messages. They are
addressed directly to us, but they somehow
go beyond us. Several decades ago, Reb
Dovid Dryen wanted to start a Kollel in
Gateshead, England, a sleepy coal-mining
town across the river from New Castle. He
sent out 23 letters to different Rabbis in
England inviting them to come start a Kollel
in Gateshead. Out of the 23 letters, 20 Rabbis
ignored the invitation and did not respond.
Two sent back polite letters telling him “no”.
One person said, “I am interested”. That
person was Rav Eliyahu Dessler. Rav Dessler
met Reb Dovid Dryen, decided to begin a
Kollel in Gateshead and turned it into the
premier place of Torah study in all of Europe.
Rav Dessler might have remained a little Rav
in a small shteible in East London for the rest
of his life, had he not answered the letter and
gone on to become the “famous Rabbi
Eliyahu Dessler”. Rav Dessler later became
the spiritual leader (mashgiach ruchani) in

the Ponevitch Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. Rav
Dessler authored the Michtav Eliyahu, which
has become a modern-day classic. One must
wonder — if he had responded like the other
22 Rabbis, would he have in fact become the
spiritual leader of the Ponevitch Yeshiva and
to author the Michtav Eliyahu? He received a
message. He heard the message and he
responded.
How many times does opportunity call out to
us, but get treated like happenstance? We just
go on with our lives. Many times G-d is
telling us “This is what you need. Here, I am
sending you a message. Just listen to it!”