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Shabbat Shalom!.

Ki Teitzei

(When you go forth)

Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19

Torah Reading for Week of August 23-29, 2009

Elul 3-9 5769

"If, along the road, you chance upon

a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the

ground, with fledglings or eggs and

the mother sitting over the fledglings

or on the eggs, do not take the mother

together with her young. Let the mother

go, and take only the young, in order that

you may fare well and have a long life." (Deuteronomy 22:6–7)

In this week's parsha, Ki Tetze, Moses continues his final speech to the Israelites by outlining 72 of the Torah's 613 mitzvot (commandments). The majority of the laws outlined are concerned with the moral values and ethics which Hashem wanted to deeply implant in the heart and minds of the Israelites before entering the land of Eretz Yisroel. As one of the more lengthy parshas in the torah it contains laws concerning family relations, acts of kindness and propriety, equity, and moral behavior.There is no Mitzvah that is of greater importance than the rest, all are equally important. The commandments translate into some type of action either to do something(positive commandment) or not to do something(negative commandment). These are the centerpiece of our religion and by doing or not doing a mitzvah we are showing our faith in the Torah and ultimately to G-d.

Amongst the many mitzvot included in this weeks parsha is the commandment of 'kan tzipor' - the nest of the bird.

"When one encounters the nest of a bird... with the mother on her young... send away the mother and only then may you take the children (22:6-7)."

The Ramban tells us that the reason the Torah gave us this mitzva was to train us in the attribute of mercy and compassion. G-d is concerned that we should be compassionate people. By doing acts of compassion we will become compassionate individuals. If we show compassion, even to the nest of a bird, how careful and sensitive will we be when dealing with human beings. Rashi writes that sending away the mother bird is a very easy mitzvah to perform. We can all relate to this mitzvah. We can all relate to the suffering a mother bird would feel if her children were taken away before her very eyes. Maimonides writes that if the mother is let go, she will not be pained by the sight of seeing her young taken away. This example was given to teach people to be kind and thoughtful, and we can easily understand its rationale.

It is interesting to note that this mitzvah which is considered a relatively simple mitzvah offers the same reward as the mitzvah the torah declares as the most difficult to perform. That is the mitzvah of honoring ones parents, the fifth of the ten commandments. This is the only other mitzvah for which long life is promised in the torah. In order to observe it, one must be ready to spontaneously act in a loving and kind way.

"... you may fare well and have a long life" (Deut. 22: 6-7).

Perhaps the connection is that when a child sees his parents showing compassion to a mother bird, he or she will be reminded of his obligations to his or her own parents. Honoring parents has its source in the character trait, of "hakoras hatov", gratitude. Regrettably, this mitzvah goes against the grain of human nature. Expressing gratitude is not easy. Showing appreciation means that we owe somebody something. This is not easy for many people.

One needs to understand that we should not be so quick to "rate" the mitzvos and pass judgment on their relative importance. Even the smallest mitzvah can merit enormous reward. It is not every day that one encounters a birds nest, it is somewhat of a unique experience. As we go through life we occasionally happen upon an unusual occurrence. Perhaps we need to pay attention, to take note of what the meaning of this experience actually is. Perhaps it is an opportunity! Doing one mitzvah will ready and condition us to do greater mitzvos. One good act, no matter how small, makes an imprint upon us. If we are commanded to act with compassion towards birds, how much more compassionate must we be towards our fellow human beings?

What is the purpose of learning the Torah? We have an established tenet that Torah learning isn't for intellectual pleasure, we study Torah in order to know Hashem, form a relationship with Hashem and to know what is expected of us. If we perform one good deed, G-d will reward us by providing us with opportunities to do yet other mitzvots. Many times we miss the message; sometimes they are addressed directly to us. "This is what you need, here I am sending you a message." During This month of Elul, the beginning of our New Year, let us "listen" and not forget the message G-d is telling us, as the song goes let one mitzvah beget another.

Shabbat Shalom,

Miriam

"Mitzvah goreret mitzvah,"

According to the "Code of Jewish Law" when the Torah says "do not boil a kid in it's mother's milk," it is only referring to meat from the 3 kosher domesticated animals - cow, goat and sheep.

However, since people "intuitively" associate chicken as "meat," then it became the law as well not to mix chicken and milk. The rabbinic prohibition of not eating poultry with dairy products is one of the many "fences around the Torah" that the Sages instituted which has been binding for the last 1500+ years.

Eggs which have been laid are in fact considered an entity by itself and is not considered meat that can be confused with animal meat. Eggs from kosher birds are kosher; they are also considered pareve (neutral, neither milk nor meat). Foods which do not fall into the category of Meat or Dairy are considered pareve, and can be consumed freely with either meat or dairy.This includes all fruits and vegetables and foods derived exclusively from such sources; salt and other non-organic foodstuffs. Fish is considered pareve, and may be eaten directly before or after both meat and milk.

Eggs are a wonderful source of protein in addition to being inexpensive, convenient and delicious!

Kosher Quiche(D)

by Esther Jaffe: according to her daughter Shani "My Mother mixes cheeses – mozzarella, Munster, pizza cheeses and Swiss"

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single pie shell

1/4 cup of bacos

1 onion, chopped

3 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups cream (redi whip)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

Sauteed oinions and lay them on the bottom of the pie shell

In a large bowl, mix together eggs, cream and salt.

Stir in bacos In a separate bowl, toss cheese and flour together. Add cheese to egg mixture; stir well. Pour mixture into hot pastry shell.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. If necessary, cover edges of crust with foil to prevent burning. Let quiche cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Spinach and Cheese Bread Pudding(D)

great dish for leftover bread,better if made at least 8 hrs.ahead

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen spinach thawed

1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion (1 large)

4 tbl. butter

1/2 teasp pepper

1 teasp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg(optional)

8 cups cubed french or Italian bread

2 cups grated cheese can use cheddar, mozzarella

1 cup parmigiana cheese

2 3/4 cups milk

9 large eggs

3 tbl. dijon mustard

Squeeze spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, then finely chop.

cook onion in butter over moderate heat, stirring until soft, add 1/2 teasp. salt, 1/4 teasp pepper, nutmeg and cook, stirring total time about 6-7 minutes, stir in spinach and remove from heat.

spread 1/3 of bread cubes in a buttered 3 qt. gratin dish or baking dish and top evenly with 1/3 spinach mixture. sprinkle with 1/3 of each cheese, repeat layering twice ending with cheeses.

whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, and remaining salt and pepper and pour evenly over bread mixture. chill, covered with plastic wrap at least 8 hrs. so bread can absorb custard.

preheat to 350 F let bread pudding stand at room temp. for about 30 minutes before cooking.

Bake uncovered in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown - about 50 minutes. let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Spinach Strawberry Salad (pareve)

(a great dressing made with egg whites!)

2 bags fresh spinach

strawberry's

2 egg whites

1 tbl Dijon mustard

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

3 Tablespoons chopped onion