Welcome to the Official release of the Ross Nichols Show Podcast. In the debut show, I talk a bit about Hurricane Harvey. This storm made landfall in the coastal bend of Texas as a Category 4 storm, bringing winds in excess of 130 MPH and LOTS of rain. The storm is far from finished and the people of southern Texas and Louisiana will be dealing with Harvey for quite some time. Keep the victims of this storm in your prayers and look for ways to assist those affected.
I also go through the weekly Torah reading Ki Tetzay (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19), providing comments for this 49th Torah portion, the 6th in Deuteronomy. Ki Tetzay means, When you go out, and refers to the subject of war. The reading begins and ends with the subject of war, but contains many seemingly unrelated laws. As I work through a high level overview of the reading, I provide a running commentary of sorts. If you follow the Torah according to the annual cycle of readings, perhaps this podcast will provide a good review.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Article on a Glutton and a Drunkard
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Good lesson, Ross. I have a question regarding the wearing of tzitzit as commanded in this week’s Torah portion as well as elsewhere. I have looked at the various references and I do not find that this commandment is directed only at the men of Israel. Is this a commandment for women as well that has just been largely ignored over the years? I do not see it being observed at all in the Orthodox Jewish community although I think I have seen Karaite women wearing tzitzit. Am I missing something in the Torah perhaps in the Hebrew language that indicates it is only for the males? I want to follow Torah and not the traditions of men.
Thanks for listening Nancy, and thanks for your question. As with so many topics, there are different responses depending upon who is responding. A quick search of various opinions will demonstrate this. Most “authorities” will begin by stating that it is not required for women. Some will not go so far as say it is forbidden, but will provide reasons as to why the wearing of TzitTzit is not required. Others will take this further claiming that it is forbidden. It is a matter that is debated. While I do not claim any authority, (and even if I did, others would object,) I see nothing within the two primary texts regarding fringes that prohibits women from wearing them (Deuteronomy 22:12; Numbers 15:37-41). I have no problem, for what it is worth, with women wearing them. The primary point it seems, for this commandment is to “bring to mind” the commandments and to do them, and thereby live a holy life. What could possibly be the harm in this?
Thank you for your quick response. For me, this is a commandment that I can easily fulfill. Now when we get to the Torah portion about building a sukka….