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How can the Torah (תורה) permit a Jewish soldier to marry a captive woman when relations with non-Jews are forbidden? The permission only applies in discretionary wars where soldiers must develop a psychology of conquest and domination. The purification process removes the 'forbidden fruit' attraction, and the Torah guarantees he'll hate her once she becomes accessible.
This shiur presents a comprehensive analysis of the complex halachic and philosophical issues surrounding yefas toar (the beautiful captive woman) found in Parshas Ki Seitzei. The lecture begins by addressing a fundamental contradiction: how can the Torah (תורה), which is built on the principle of self-control over the yetzer hara, permit living with a non-Jewish woman - a sin so serious that 24,000 Jews died for it in Parshas Balak? The Rav examines the dispute between Rashi (רש"י) and other Rishonim regarding whether the soldier may live with the captive immediately or only after the full purification process. This leads to Tosafot's question: if the entire process must be completed first - including shaving her head, growing her nails, removing attractive clothing, and letting her mourn for a month - how does this address the immediate battlefield desire?
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Parshas Ki Seitzei 21:10-14
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