Showing posts with label Ki Teitzei. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ki Teitzei. Show all posts

Ki Teitzei - Keeping Quiet

And you shall keep a stake in addition to your weapons; and it shall be, when you sit down outside [to relieve yourself], you shall dig with it, and you shall return and cover your excrement.
וְיָתֵ֛ד תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֖ עַל־אֲזֵנֶ֑ךָ וְהָיָה֙ בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֣ ח֔וּץ וְחָֽפַרְתָּ֣ה בָ֔הּ וְשַׁבְתָּ֖ וְכִסִּ֥יתָ אֶת־צֵֽאָתֶֽךָ
Devarim 23:14
The Gemarah in Ketubot explains this verse.

Ki Teitzei - Protecting the Soul

When you build a house that is new, you shall make a guard rail for your roof
כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ 
Devarim 22:8

The Noam Elimelech looks into the deeper meaning of this verse. He explains that the beginning of this verse "When you build a house" refers to our 'internal house', in other words our souls. The soul is  a very holy entity and needs to be protected and maintained regularly.

How can we protect the soul?