Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Ki Teseh- The Yeser Hara Strikes When Man is Distracted: Eshet Yefat Toar

This week’s parasha, Parashat Ki Teseh, discusses a very difficult halacha: the law of eshet yefat toar. The Torah describes the Jewish soldier who goes out to war and desires a non-Jewish woman. He is permitted to have a sexual encounter with her, but must then bring her home, and if they wish to be married, he must convert her.

Why does the Torah allow the soldier to have relations with this non-Jewish woman? The Torah usually demands restraint. Why in this case is the soldier permitted to succumb to his yeser hara?

In previous years, we discussed the interpretation of the Or Hahaim Hakadosh, which exemplifies the depth with which the Torah must be studied to avoid reaching incorrect conclusions. He explains that the soldiers who went out to war were righteous and holy sadikim, and thus when one of them felt attracted to a captive woman, there was good reason to suspect that this was due not to her physical appearance, but rather because of the spark within her soul. If indeed, this woman had such a holy spark within her, he was encouraged to convert and marry her. Before he did so, however, he was required to first ascertain that his feelings of attraction were indeed spiritual, and not physical. The soldier would therefore bring the woman to her home and spoil her attractive appearance. If he still experienced desire for her, then it could be assumed that he was drawn to the spark within her soul, and he would thus marry her.

This year, I would like to make another point. The simple understanding of this parasha is that the yeser hara, the evil inclination, is relentless, and its most successful tactic is to prevent a man from thinking. Men and women run from place to place, without ever thinking about why they were created. If a person would stop and think, ‘why did God create me,’ he would conclude that he was created to serve God. And eventually, he will realize that he must follow the manual, the Torah, which offers us instructions for life. Just like every machine comes with an instruction manual, so too, man was created, and was given an instruction manual- the Torah.

This life is a vestibule; it is a bridge between this world and the next. People are not supposed to stop on a bridge. The only way to get to eternity is through this world. However, people treat this world, the bridge, as if it is an eternity. Those who do not prepare in this world will not pass through the corridor into the next world.

The soldier who went out to war is completely focused on fighting. He is unable to think about other issues. God says that in this case, since he is completely pre-occupied, God does not hold him responsible, and he is given permission to have relations with her, and then decide whether they are to be married. It is from this unique halachic dispensation that we learn a very important lesson about the strength of the yeser hara.


Related Parasha
Parashat Ki-Teseh: Emuna and Honesty - 2022 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh: Strengthening Ourselves in Preparation for Redemption - 2021 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh: The Transformation of Bilam’s Curse - 2020 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh- The Message of Yibum - 2019 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh: The Pinhole of Repentance - 2017 Year
Elul- Reasons for Joy and Optimism as We Head to Court - 2016 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh: Teaching Children Right From Right - 2015 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh: The Mother Bird & Amalek - 2014 Year
Parashat Ki-Teseh: Eshet Yefat Toar – Reclaiming the Lost Sparks - 2013 Year
Parashat Ki-Teseh: Misvot and the Potato Chip Syndrome - 2012 Year
Parashat Ki-Teseh: Tough Love - 2011 Year
Parashat Ki-Teseh: Beyond the Letter of the Law - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Ki-Teseh - 2010 Year
Parashat Ki Teseh- The Challenge of Gratitude - 2009 Year
Parashat Ki-Teseh: Waging the Battle - 2008 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat Behaalotecha- Rectification is Always Possible
Parashat Naso- Emuna First
Shavuot- Celebrating the Eternal Torah
Shavuot- The Challenge – and Rewards – of Torah Commitment
Parashat Behar- Experiencing the Sweetness and Delight of Torah
Parashat Emor- Keter Shem Tob 'The Crown of Good Reputation'
Parashat Ahare Mot- Planting Our Spiritual Trees
Parashat Shemini- Respect and Reverence in the Synagogue
Pesah: Redemption Then and Now
Pesah- Its A Mirage
Parashat Vayikra- The Triple Sin of Dishonesty
Parashat Pekudeh- Counting the Things That Matter
Parashat Ki Tisa- The Sanctity of Every Jew
Purim and the Sale of Yosef
Parashat Terumah- The Torah’s “Footsteps”
Page of 67
1002 Parashot found