What is a nest?
Note the large kuf in this verse from Parashat Ki Teitzei, the first letter in the word for "nest" - קן. What can we learn from this special kuf at this particular time, as we study Ki Teitzei during Elul 5785?
(ו) כִּ֣י יִקָּרֵ֣א קַן־צִפּ֣וֹר ׀ לְפָנֶ֡יךָ בַּדֶּ֜רֶךְ בְּכׇל־עֵ֣ץ ׀ א֣וֹ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶפְרֹחִים֙ א֣וֹ בֵיצִ֔ים וְהָאֵ֤ם רֹבֶ֙צֶת֙ עַל־הָֽאֶפְרֹחִ֔ים א֖וֹ עַל־הַבֵּיצִ֑ים לֹא־תִקַּ֥ח הָאֵ֖ם עַל־הַבָּנִֽים׃ (ז) שַׁלֵּ֤חַ תְּשַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־הָאֵ֔ם וְאֶת־הַבָּנִ֖ים תִּֽקַּֽח־לָ֑ךְ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יִ֣יטַב לָ֔ךְ וְהַאֲרַכְתָּ֖ יָמִֽים׃ {ס}
(6) If, along the road, you chance upon a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs and the mother sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young. (7) Let the mother go, and take only the young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life.
Occurrences of a large or special letters, as well as occurrences of punch extraordinary, can serve as signals to us to pay special attention to the word, and the verse, where they occur.
The Ramban (Nachmanides) in his lengthy commentary on the above verse, says the following (including reference to the following verse from Leviticus):
(כח) וְשׁ֖וֹר אוֹ־שֶׂ֑ה אֹת֣וֹ וְאֶת־בְּנ֔וֹ לֹ֥א תִשְׁחֲט֖וּ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃
(28) However, no animal from the herd or from the flock shall be slaughtered on the same day with its young.
Ramban on Deuteronomy 22:6
(א)כִּי יִקָּרֵא קַן צִפּוֹר לְפָנֶיךָ, גַּם זוֹ מִצְוָה מְבֹאֶרֶת, מִן אֹתוֹ וְאֶת בְּנוֹ לֹא תִשְׁחֲטוּ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד (ויקרא כב כח), כִּי הַטַּעַם בִּשְׁנֵיהֶם לְבִלְתִּי הֱיוֹת לָנוּ לֵב אַכְזָרִי וְלֹא נְרַחֵם, אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַתִּיר הַכָּתוּב לַעֲשׂוֹת הַשְׁחָתָה לַעֲקֹר הַמִּין אע"פ שֶׁהִתִּיר הַשְּׁחִיטָה בַּמִּין הַהוּא, וְהִנֵּה הַהוֹרֵג הָאֵם וְהַבָּנִים בְּיוֹם אֶחָד, אוֹ לוֹקֵחַ אוֹתָם בִּהְיוֹת לָהֶם דְּרוֹר לָעוֹף, כְּאִלּוּ יַכְרִית הַמִּין הַהוּא. וְכָתַב הָרַב בְּמוֹרֶה הַנְּבֻכִים (ג מח) כִּי טַעַם שִׁלּוּחַ הַקֵּן וְטַעַם אֹתוֹ וְאֶת בְּנוֹ לֹא תִשְׁחֲטוּ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד כְּדֵי לְהַזְהִיר שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁחֹט הַבֵּן בְּעֵינֵי הָאֵם, כִּי יֵשׁ לַבְּהֵמוֹת דְּאָגָה גְּדוֹלָה בָּזֶה, וְאֵין הֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין דַּאֲגַת הָאָדָם לְדַאֲגַת הַבְּהֵמוֹת עַל בְּנֵיהֶם, כִּי אַהֲבַת הָאֵם וְחַנּוֹתָהּ לִבְנֵי בִּטְנָהּ אֵינֶנּוּ נִמְשָׁךְ אַחֲרֵי הַשֵּׂכֶל וְהַדִּבּוּר אֲבָל הוּא מִפְּעֻלַּת כֹּחַ הַמַּחְשָׁבָה הַמְּצוּיָה בַּבְּהֵמוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר הִיא מְצוּיָה בָּאָדָם....
(1) IF A BIRD’S NEST CHANCE TO BE BEFORE THEE. This also is an explanatory commandment, of the prohibition ye shall not kill it [the dam] and its young both in one day [Leviticus 22:8 ], because the reason for both [commandments] is that we should not have a cruel heart and lack compassion, or it may be that Scripture does not permit us to destroy a species altogether, although it permits slaughter [for food] within that group.
Now, he who kills the dam and the young in one day or takes them when they are free to fly [it is regarded] as though he cut off that species.
Now, he [Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon] wrote in the Moreh Nebuchim that the reason for the commandment to release the mother bird when taking its nest and the prohibition against killing the dam with its young on one day is in order to admonish us against killing the young within the mother’s sight, for animals feel great distress under such circumstances. There is no difference between the distress of man and the distress of animals for their young, since the love of the mother and her tenderness to the children of her womb are not the result of reasoning or [the faculty of intelligent] speech, but are produced by the faculty of mental images which exists among animals even as it is present in man.
Now, he who kills the dam and the young in one day or takes them when they are free to fly [it is regarded] as though he cut off that species.
Now, he [Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon] wrote in the Moreh Nebuchim that the reason for the commandment to release the mother bird when taking its nest and the prohibition against killing the dam with its young on one day is in order to admonish us against killing the young within the mother’s sight, for animals feel great distress under such circumstances. There is no difference between the distress of man and the distress of animals for their young, since the love of the mother and her tenderness to the children of her womb are not the result of reasoning or [the faculty of intelligent] speech, but are produced by the faculty of mental images which exists among animals even as it is present in man.
Here are verses from later in Ki Teitzei:
(יז) לֹ֣א תַטֶּ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט גֵּ֣ר יָת֑וֹם וְלֹ֣א תַחֲבֹ֔ל בֶּ֖גֶד אַלְמָנָֽה׃ (יח) וְזָכַרְתָּ֗ כִּ֣י עֶ֤בֶד הָיִ֙יתָ֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֛ יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מִשָּׁ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}
(17)You shall not subvert the rights of the stranger or the fatherless; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pawn. (18) Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and that your God יהוה redeemed you from there; therefore do I enjoin you to observe this commandment.
Let's braid these verses together. We shall not subvert the rights of the fatherless (orphans)... and something about the particular importance of a nest, with its large kuf calling us to attention. What can we learn from these verses?
I suppose this depends on which orphans we understand we are called to care for. All orphans? Or alternatively, only orphans to whom we think we are not related or connected?
And I also must ask: What is a nest? What do you think of, when you think of a nest?
And what is a little child without a mother, or a mother without her little children?
As I study Parashat Ki Teitzei this week, this year, my thoughts are drawn ineluctably to Israel's relentless siege / blockade / attacks on Gaza and the West Bank as well. Today, היום, this very day, 3 September 2025 | 10 Elul 5785, at this very moment: what can this verse, and this large kuf, teach me? Teach us?
My thoughts drift again to the oft-repeated mitzvah of caring for orphans:
For example, from Parashat Mishpatim:
And I also must ask: What is a nest? What do you think of, when you think of a nest?
And what is a little child without a mother, or a mother without her little children?
As I study Parashat Ki Teitzei this week, this year, my thoughts are drawn ineluctably to Israel's relentless siege / blockade / attacks on Gaza and the West Bank as well. Today, היום, this very day, 3 September 2025 | 10 Elul 5785, at this very moment: what can this verse, and this large kuf, teach me? Teach us?
My thoughts drift again to the oft-repeated mitzvah of caring for orphans:
For example, from Parashat Mishpatim:
(כ) וְגֵ֥ר לֹא־תוֹנֶ֖ה וְלֹ֣א תִלְחָצֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (כא) כׇּל־אַלְמָנָ֥ה וְיָת֖וֹם לֹ֥א תְעַנּֽוּן׃ (כב) אִם־עַנֵּ֥ה תְעַנֶּ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־צָעֹ֤ק יִצְעַק֙ אֵלַ֔י שָׁמֹ֥עַ אֶשְׁמַ֖ע צַעֲקָתֽוֹ׃ (כג) וְחָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֔י וְהָרַגְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם בֶּחָ֑רֶב וְהָי֤וּ נְשֵׁיכֶם֙ אַלְמָנ֔וֹת וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם יְתֹמִֽים׃ {פ}
(20) You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (21) You [communal leaders] shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. (22) If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me, (23) and My anger shall blaze forth and I will put you to the sword, and your own wives shall become widows and your children orphans.
(ט) כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יהוה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר מִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱמֶת֙ שְׁפֹ֔טוּ וְחֶ֣סֶד וְרַֽחֲמִ֔ים עֲשׂ֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־אָחִֽיו׃ (י) וְאַלְמָנָ֧ה וְיָת֛וֹם גֵּ֥ר וְעָנִ֖י אַֽל־תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּ וְרָעַת֙ אִ֣ישׁ אָחִ֔יו אַֽל־תַּחְשְׁב֖וּ בִּלְבַבְכֶֽם׃
(9) Thus said GOD of Hosts: Execute true justice; deal loyally and compassionately with one another. (10) Do not defraud the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; and do not plot evil against one another.—
Are you familiar with the acronym WCNSF? "Wounded child, no surviving family". Children without surviving family, and without a nest.
This term was coined in November 2023 in the context the very early days of Israel's war on Gaza, and first reported by Doctors Without Borders at that time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wounded_child,_no_surviving_family
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/why-us-must-support-immediate-ceasefire-gaza
Here is a photo from November 2023, before the current state of famine had been established in Gaza:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wounded_child,_no_surviving_family
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/why-us-must-support-immediate-ceasefire-gaza
Here is a photo from November 2023, before the current state of famine had been established in Gaza:
"Israeli strikes on Gaza leave children without parents and parents without childrenWorld Aug 13, 2024 3:59 PM EDT"
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-strikes-on-gaza-leave-children-without-parents-and-parents-without-children
And here is a similar photo, from late July 2025, after the reality of the human-created famine in Gaza had become increasingly incontrovertible to the point where the UN would soon declare a famine:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israeli-strikes-on-gaza-leave-children-without-parents-and-parents-without-children
And here is a similar photo, from late July 2025, after the reality of the human-created famine in Gaza had become increasingly incontrovertible to the point where the UN would soon declare a famine:
https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-08-01/the-story-behind-a-photo-that-symbolizes-hunger-in-gaza-i-took-it-while-i-was-starving-myself.html
Tens of thousands of children in Gaza have lost one or both parents during Israel's current inhumane campaign in Gaza.
No parents, no nest, no food, no future.
For some, Jews and others alike, it has been clear from very soon after October 7 2023 that the actions of Israel towards Gaza were antithetical to Jewish values, including the fundamental Jewish values of preserving life and caring for orphans.
For others, various factors seem to have blinded them to the outright inhumanity and brutality of Israel's actions, as well as to the troubling aspects of the USA's support for Israel. However, eyes seem to be opening...
My prayer at this time, during Elul 5785, is that our eyes and our hearts can be opened and opened again, and that we can connect deeply with Jewish values of preserving life.
Tens of thousands of children in Gaza have lost one or both parents during Israel's current inhumane campaign in Gaza.
No parents, no nest, no food, no future.
For some, Jews and others alike, it has been clear from very soon after October 7 2023 that the actions of Israel towards Gaza were antithetical to Jewish values, including the fundamental Jewish values of preserving life and caring for orphans.
For others, various factors seem to have blinded them to the outright inhumanity and brutality of Israel's actions, as well as to the troubling aspects of the USA's support for Israel. However, eyes seem to be opening...
My prayer at this time, during Elul 5785, is that our eyes and our hearts can be opened and opened again, and that we can connect deeply with Jewish values of preserving life.
May our study this year of this week's Torah portion, with its large kuf directing us to examine the question of nests and caring for orphans, foster this opening of our eyes and our hearts. May we be led to new paths of kindness, justice, and compassion.
(טז)וְהוֹלַכְתִּ֣י עִוְרִ֗ים בְּדֶ֙רֶךְ֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בִּנְתִיב֥וֹת לֹא־יָדְע֖וּ אַדְרִיכֵ֑ם אָשִׂים֩ מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָא֗וֹר וּמַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים עֲשִׂיתִ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עֲזַבְתִּֽים׃
(16) I will lead the blind by a road they did not know,
And I will make them walk by paths they never knew.
I will turn darkness before them to light,
Rough places into level ground.
These are the promises—I will keep them without fail.
And I will make them walk by paths they never knew.
I will turn darkness before them to light,
Rough places into level ground.
These are the promises—I will keep them without fail.
