No community start suggestion yet.
Why do engaged men and new homeowners return from optional wars but still serve in obligatory wars? The shiur develops a fundamental distinction: optional wars involve only communal responsibility, while obligatory wars combine communal duty with individual obligation. Those completing their essential self-definition (marriage, home, field) are exempt from communal obligations but not personal ones.
This shiur addresses a fundamental question about the Torah (תורה)'s laws of warfare in Parshas Shoftim: why do engaged men, new homeowners, and vineyard planters return home from milchemes reshus (optional wars) but still participate in milchemes mitzvah (מצוה) (obligatory wars)? The Rambam (רמב"ם) states that in obligatory wars, even these categories must participate, creating an apparent contradiction. Rabbi Zweig resolves this by examining a Gemara (גמרא) in Sotah that describes three things determined at conception: one's spouse, home, and field. These represent core elements of personal identity and self-completion, not mere distractions from warfare. When someone has begun but not completed these fundamental life tasks - engaged but not married, built but not moved in, planted but not harvested - they are in a state of potential self-completion.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Up Next in this Series
Why does seeing a sotah inspire one to become a nazir? The nazir's abstention creates a pre-sin state where body and soul exist in perfect harmony. This 30-day period corrects the internal contradiction that led to his original transgression.
Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Shoftim
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
