IN A NUTSHELL
In this parasha Moshe continues his speech, preparing the Israelites for living an independent life in the land of Israel. He gets into the real details of the covenant between Israel and God. Ki Tetzeh contains seventy-four commands, which is more than any other parasha in the Torah. These include laws about family relations, moral and legal obligations towards neighbours and fellow citizens, moral behaviour in relation to financial matters, and other rules of social responsibility.
The parasha ends with the command to always remember Amalek, Israel’s archenemy and the Torah’s classic example of a group of people who act in hatred and cruelty.
QUESTION TO PONDER
Why do we need mitzvot to tell us how to treat each other well? Isn’t it enough to always act out of love?