By Julia Loeb, WLCJ International President
Holiness is in the Details
Parashat Ki Teitzei is one of the Torah’s most detailed portions, filled with seventy-four commandments covering every aspect of daily life from family relationships and ethical business practices to reminders of compassion for the vulnerable. Reading it feels a little like packing for a long trip: you’re sure you have everything you need, but you double-check just in case. And maybe you even throw in an extra sweater, because you never know.
As we read Ki Teitzei, the calendar reminds us that the High Holidays are fast approaching. Elul is here. The shofar sounds in the synagogue and on Makom B’Yachad, (where Women’s League members meet on zoom three times a week, https://zoom.us/j/630830287, and we are gently nudged toward reflection. In many ways, Ki Teitzei mirrors this season: both call us to take stock of the details of our lives, to notice where we’ve stumbled, and to imagine how we might do better.
This portion often makes me think about how so much of what we do is in the details. We remember the dentist appointments, the birthdays, the family recipes. We buy an extra babka to put in the freezer “just in case someone stops by.” At times it may feel overwhelming, but deep down we know a truth reflected in Ki Teitzei: holiness is built from the little things.
I remember one year when our congregation used different locations for each day of Rosh Hashanah. Everyone was gathered in the sanctuary, dressed and ready for Shacharit to begin. Five minutes passed, then ten, and still no leader. Whispers began to ripple through the seats. It turned out that our lay leader had gone to the wrong location. By the time he arrived at our location, he was out of breath and apologetic. The congregation was just happy he made it and broke into joyous laughter. The service was a little delayed, but the mood had shifted: we were lighter, more connected, grateful simply to be together.
To me, that moment demonstrates Ki Teitzei’s underlying message. We can’t prepare for everything, and sometimes we end up in the wrong place–literally or figuratively. What matters most is showing up with sincerity. The Torah doesn’t only tell us to “be holy,” it gives us concrete examples: return the lost donkey, send away the mother bird, use fair weights and measures. Holiness isn’t found in grand gestures alone, it is created through daily acts of responsibility, kindness, and care.
Many of us carry the invisible weight of these “everyday commandments.” They may not always make it into the High Holiday sermons, but they matter. They shape the rhythm of our homes, our synagogues, and our communities. Ki Teitzei reminds us that the details are not distractions, they are the essence of spiritual life.
As the High Holidays approach, may we embrace both the grandeur of the season and the small, holy details that give it meaning. And if we occasionally find ourselves in the wrong place, may we have the grace to laugh, adjust, and keep going together.
Shabbat Shalom!
Julia Loeb
WLCJ International President
jloeb@wlcj.org
