Two Minute Torah Podcast

Ki Tetze 5768 by Rabbi Tzvi Graetz

Hi, my name is Rabbi Tzvi Graetz, and I'm the Executive Director of Masorti Olami & MERCAZ Olami. In parashat ki tztze, Devarim 22:8, we read: -

When you build a new house then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you shall not bring blood upon your house, if any one falls from it.

What is the meaning of the word ma'ake (translated as parapet above)?

Rashi says ma'ake means a fence (gader) that completely encloses the square roof (as seen in Arab houses today). We as new neighbors are instructed to build a fence around our house and block ourselves from our new surroundings in the name of safety.

The Onklus translates ma'ake as taika, from the word "tik", a bag or a vessel that contains objects . The rationale here is for the house to contain its contents since we have valuable things inside. We are not enclosing the house with a fence for the purpose of security, rather we are trying to contain what's inside so it does not fall out.

Eben Ezra and the Rashbam add a new dimension to the concept. They understand ma'ake to be a sign-a mar'e. The ma'ake becomes a sign (like a stop sign) to serve as a reminder to the people in the house not to fall down from it. The idea of a warning sign is a softer concept than the others because it's telling us that the ma'ake is not trying to separate the new neighbor from his surroundings and not trying to contain the contents of the house in a closed area. It's a little more risky because it leaves it to the individual to pay attention to the sign and to act accordingly.

A ma'ake serves as a border. In a global and almost borderless world, we constantly build necessary concrete borders (for a house, a congregation, our schools and countries). There is room for all three interpretations. It could be for security (gader), a vessel that contains objects (tik), or just a soft reminder or sign for people to take responsibility for how they create borders in their lives.