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Why does the Torah (תורה) exempt newlyweds from all military service while those merely engaged remain on support duty? The shiur develops a fundamental yesod that marriage and family-building are not private affairs but communal responsibilities. Just as society depends on soldiers for defense, it depends on families to perpetuate and develop the next generation.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes the law in Ki Seitzei that exempts newly married men from all military service during their first year, contrasting it with the previous week's parsha where engaged men are only exempted from front-line combat. This creates an apparent contradiction - why should married men receive complete exemption when they could still serve in support roles? The key insight emerges from the law of eglah arufah (the heifer whose neck is broken) when a murder victim is found. Rashi (רש"י) explains that the calf represents lost potential - the victim's inability to "produce fruit" through developing children and family. This reveals that pru urvu (be fruitful and multiply) encompasses not just biological reproduction but the ongoing responsibility to develop and nurture children throughout their lives. Building on this foundation, the shiur presents a revolutionary perspective: marriage, establishing a home, and creating a livelihood are not merely personal choices but communal obligations. When someone builds a family, they are performing community service by contributing their unique "flavor" and perspective to society's future. The Torah (תורה) views the family unit, not the individual, as the basic building block of society - evidenced by the Paschal lamb being eaten "according to their families." This reframes military exemption entirely: newlyweds aren't being given a personal privilege but are engaged in a different form of community service. Society needs both soldiers for immediate defense and families for long-term continuity. The first year of marriage is crucial for establishing the foundation that will enable a couple to raise children who will contribute their parents' unique qualities to the world. This perspective has profound implications for contemporary issues, including how society should approach those who choose not to marry or have children. Rather than calling them "sick," the proper approach is to emphasize that everyone owes society their contribution through family building. Just as people benefit from society's infrastructure and culture, they have an obligation to give back by perpetuating society with their own distinctive contributions. The shiur concludes that this understanding transforms our perspective from narcissistic individualism to recognizing our interconnected responsibilities, where developing our families is ultimately an act of service to mankind and God.
Ki Seitzei 24:5
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