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Ki Teitzei (2026)

Shabbat Ki-Tetzei

Dvar Torah – Building Welcoming Homes
This week’s portion is notable for having 74 Mitzvahs (commandments), the most of any portion and a full 12% of all the Mitzvahs in the Torah

One of these is the biblically mandated building code of fencing the roof of our home. ”When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it” (Deu. 22:8). This applies specifically to a flat roof which is likely to be used for domestic purposes.

The modern commentator the Netziv notes that while the verse gives the example of a “new” house, this Mitzvah actually applies to any house. In fact, Halacha (Jewish law) forbids us from dwelling in any home until the roof’s fence is constructed. He suggests the insight that the Torah is accentuating that when building new homes, they should be infused with Mitzvahs from the get-go, hence the primary example is a “new” home.

Not only does the roof require a fence, but the Talmud teaches us from this very verse that other hazards like a rickety ladder or a violent dog are not allowed to be on our property as well. The question arises why we shouldn’t be given the laissez-faire liberty to keep whatever we wish in our own private spaces.

Building on the Netziv’s insight we can suggest that these hazards are antithetical to the Torah’s concept of a home. The Jewish home is supposed to be a place of the light of Shabbat Candles, the Mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (hospitality), and an address where those in need can find Tzedaka (charity) and Gemilut Chasadim (kindness). When we build a new home with a fence on the roof visible from afar, we’re sending a strong visual signal visible that a safe and welcoming place is being built and that a new Jewish home is open for business.

Shabbat in/out times
Yerushalayim 18:37/19:53
Tel-Aviv 18:57/19:55
Amsterdam 20:35/21:47
NYC 19:27/20:27
Cleveland 19:59/20:59
Edmonton 20:31/21:44
Mexico City 18:42/19:33
More Shabbat times here

Shabbat Shalom!



 

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