Bringing the Captive Home - Ki Tetzeh

 This Sundaymorning’s Breakfast & Classbegins with the opening words of Parashat Ki Tetzeh: “Ki tetze la-milḥamah al oyevecha”— when we go out to war against our enemies. The Zohar and the Or HaḤaim revealthat the Torah may also be describing a much more personal battle: the waragainst the yetzer hara, and the beautiful captive as our own neshamah.  Elulis not only about discovering what is wrong with us. It is about rescuing whatis still beautiful within us. In this morning’s class, we follow the versesstep by step and discover how Ki Tetzeh becomes a map for Elul — going out tobattle, taking back what was captured, and finally bringing the neshamah home.