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Parashat Ki Teitzei thrums with the impulse of compassion toward all of creation. For this reason, it is one of my favorite portions.

Much has been made of the enigmatic doubling of the word “justice” in the passage, “Justice, justice, you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20).

Blessing and curse are not portrayed as separate domains, but rather two aspects of God’s creation. They exist in some measure in all things, and within us as well.

And yet I wonder, is niceness really what we’re looking for from our holy scriptures?

Deprived of one sense, the heart was awakened to that which cannot be perceived by the senses alone.

Each of Moses’ novel interpretations is the work of his rabbinic mind.

Our sojourn began in strife and ends in strife. It began with war against Amalek. It ends with war against the Midianites. After forty years, we have not managed to escape violence.

The Torah presents Law as process, teaching us that even divine statutes must sometimes change to meet the needs of the moment.

What begins as a history of the universe becomes a history of the earth and of mankind.

It is here, in the world of the living, that our sacred vocation can be fulfilled.