Weekly D'var Torah

Be kind, for everyone you encounter is engaged in a terrible struggle.  
1st Century Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria
  
This week’s Torah portion Ki Teitzei starts off in a very alarming way: when you go forth to battle against your foes….  “When” you go to battle?  What about seeking peace and coexistence?  What about negotiation? Why is the battle inevitable?

The Rabbis ask the same question.  Their answer: of course we seek peace and conflict is the very last resort but there is a profound inevitably to conflict that each of us wages every day against ourselves.  Walt Whitman wrote, “I contain multitudes". Each of our souls is vastly complex, composed of so much potential, so many traits, qualities and even contradictions.  The ability to marshal the multitude within, to find inner unity and purpose to deal with all the challenges we  face every day and to perform a single act of kindness and justice is truly to achieve a great victory in battle. 
 
Having good intentions alone does not win battles.  King Solomon in Proverbs teaches: “Battles are won through strategy”.  All victories come about when we have a plan. Whether it is to set aside time for learning, to get together with family or friends, to devote time to self-care or literally any other worthy endeavor, things do not happen generally without setting goals and using the blessings of each day to live mindfully and purposefully.  As the month of Elul, the month of preparation for the High Holidays, races by, try to set aside some time each day for planning spiritual care.  After all, as this week's Torah portion teaches us, the battles may be inevitable, but the victory is up to each of us.