This week's parsha begins with the words "when you go out to war with your enemy". The commentators explain that this alludes to a spiritual war which each person wages with their evil inclination. The verse doesn't state when you win the war against your enemy because in the war against our evil inclination there is a constant battle, it is a battle which doesn't ever end. It is our purpose in this world to continuously fight the evil inclination. There will be times when a person is defeated but they must continue fighting as the verse tells us the righteous falls seven times and gets up. As long as we keep fighting and don't give up we will find success against the evil inclination.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath