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Why does the Torah (תורה) permit a soldier to marry a captive woman—seemingly giving in to the yetzer hara? The shiur develops that the yetzer hara here is not lust, but gevurah—the drive to assert and conquer. Torah permits yefas toar because in war, gevurah is commanded, and suppressing it entirely would undermine the milchama itself. The higher avodah is destroying the *need* for assertion while still performing the act of war as a mitzvah (מצוה), not a personal drive.
Rabbi Zweig delivers a comprehensive analysis of Parshas Ki Seitzei, focusing on the seemingly paradoxical halacha (הלכה) of yefas toar—the permission for a soldier to marry a captive woman. The parsha's structure itself is puzzling: it opens with yefas toar, proceeds to the laws of inheritance (specifically the bechor receiving a double portion even from a "hated" wife), and concludes with ben sorer u'moreh (the rebellious son). Rashi (רש"י) notes this progression and explains it as a chain of consequences: if you marry the yefas toar, you will come to hate her, and this will lead to a rebellious child. However, this still leaves unresolved why the laws of inheritance are inserted here, rather than in Sefer Bamidbar where all other inheritance laws appear. The shiur's central question is Rashi's statement that "lo dibra Torah (תורה) ela k'neged yetzer hara"—the Torah spoke only in response to the yetzer hara. This principle seems to contradict the entire foundation of Torah, which demands restraint and self-control. Why would the Torah permit something forbidden simply because the urge is strong? Furthermore, the Sifrei states "af al pi she'einah noah"—even if she is not beautiful—which undermines the entire premise that this is about physical desire.
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Ki Seitzei 21:10-21:21
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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.
