Ki Theze: passion

Ki Theze: passion

 

The Parsha contains several incidents of passion ... and its consequences. The captive woman bears  the wayward child, the seduced woman and the divorce ( yes, I am purposely skipping rape, it is too complex), adultery is a capital offense.

 

The common understanding is that religion offers  alternative to passion.  really, it generates new, nationalistic passions. The parsha ends with the never ending hatred of Amaklek and contains the everlasting animus toward Moab and Ammmon. 

 

The parsha  also uses the language of passion: toavah - disgust, which in the Shlomo world of distorted etymology is related to taavah passion

 

Give passion its due:  without it we would not be here and yet we are here despite its murderous side.