Are there times were we should strive not to be present or in the moment?

As we enter the month of Elul and approach the High Holidays, many of us instinctively tighten our grip on spiritual practices. We double down on prayer, intensify our focus, and strive for flawless kavanah (intention). But what if true holiness sometimes emerges when we loosen our hold?

In this week's Torah portion, Ki Teitze, we encounter a surprising perspective on mitzvot (commandments) that challenges our assumptions about intentionality and control. Let's explore how embracing the unintentional might deepen our spiritual practice and transform our relationship with the Divine.

Key Takeaways

1. The nuanced approach to returning lost objects and when it's okay to "hide your eyes"
2. How the agricultural law of forgotten sheaves (shichecha) relates to selective memory during the High Holidays
3. The serendipitous nature of the bird's nest commandment and its character and environmental implications

Timestamps

• [00:00:00] Holiness in forgetting and letting go
• [00:02:07] Rabbi joins from Italy
• [00:03:00] Announcements and upcoming live event
• [00:04:00] Returning lost objects in Deuteronomy
• [00:06:03] The subway lesson: looking away
• [00:09:00] Exceptions to returning lost items
• [00:12:00] The mitzvah of forgetting sheaves in the field
• [00:17:00] Selective memory and Rosh Hashanah
• [00:22:00] The bird's nest commandment
• [00:28:00] Wrapping up: intentional vs. unintentional holiness

Links & Learnings

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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/