(2011/5771)

One of the more unusual Halachot found in this week’s Sidra is that of Shiluach HaKein, sending a mother bird away before taking the eggs in the nest. The Torah commands, “Shaleiach Teshalach Et HaEim VeEt HaBanim Tikach Lach,”, “You shall surely send away the mother and take the young for yourself” (Devarim 22:7). Following this puzzling commandment, the Torah offers us even more surprising incentives to fulfill this Mitzvah. The conclusion of the Pasuk reads, “Lema’an Yitav Lach VeHa’arachta Yamim,” “In order that it will be good for you and you will prolong your days.” Immediately, the question arises: why would the Torah offer such a sizable reward for what seems to be such a simple task?

In order to help us understand the answer, the Rosh displays a comparison between the topic of sending away a mother bird and the destruction of the Churban Beit HaMikdash. Chazal tell us that the Second Beit HaMikdash was destroyed mostly due to the sin of Sin’at Chinam, hating our fellow Jew. The Rosh describes Hashem as the individual sending away the mother bird, which represents Yerushalayim and the Beit HaMikdash, in order to take away the eggs, which represent Bnei Yisrael. The Rosh explains that because of the sin of hating fellow Jews and not showing them compassion, Hashem forced our mother, Yerushalayim, to leave us, thereby leaving us vulnerable.

Based on this explanation, we are able to learn a very important idea about the value of treating our fellow Jew correctly. Ramban explains that the reason for the Mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen is to train us in Gemilut Chasadim to other Jews. By sending away the mother bird, we are sparing her bearing witness to a traumatizing event as seeing her children being taken away from her. The Torah implemented this Mitzvah in the hope that we can apply this lesson to other people. Once we achieve this cornerstone Mitzvah of compassion to our fellow Jews, we will then be able to achieve other Mitzvot. Therefore, Rashi explains that if the reward for such a deceptively simple Mitzvah is so great, we can only imagine what the reward is for greater Mitzvot. By doing the Mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen, we can improve our Gemilut Chasadim to others, putting the rewards for other Mitzvot within reach.