This week’s parasha – Ki Tetze – has the unique distinction of containing more commandments than any other parasha in the torah. The groups of laws found here include family laws, laws concerning executed criminals, domestic laws, laws about marital and sexual misconduct, forbidden relationships, as well as a lot of other social, cultic, poverty, and family legislation.
One of the most interesting laws concerns that of the “rebellious child” who refuses to listen to his parents. The text teaches that, if your child (son, actually) refuses to listen to you, and is out of control, he must be presented to the elders of the city, pronounced uncontrollable, and stoned to death…..
As you can imagine, the Rabbis had a difficult time with this mitzvah – as do we all – and they stated unequivocably in the Talmud that this never happened…
“There never was, nor will there ever be, a child who meets all of the legal qualifications of the ‘wayward and rebellious son.’ Why then was this law written? That you may study it and receive reward [for the Torah learning, despite its lack of practical application].” (Sanhedrin 71a)
Of course, like everything else in the Talmud, there was one Rabbi who stated: not only did this happen – but I saw the boy’s grave…….
Anyway – here’s the Limerick:
If you have a rebellious child
Who won’t listen, gets drunk and is wild
We’re taught to disown him
So the elders can stone him
(But not once was a case like this filed)
- Vayikra Limerick - March 14, 2013
- A new Purim Limerick for a divided Congress. - February 21, 2013
- A New Tu B’Shvat Limerick - January 25, 2013