כי תצא מחנה על איביך ונשמרת מכל דבר רע ..... (כג-י)
In a fiery shmuess delivered by R’ Gamliel Rabinowitz shlita a number of years ago, he commented on an interesting phenomenon: how during Elul everyone is busy looking for segulos and mystical kabbalos to achieve the goal of Teshuva - repentance. Everyone is looking for the “easy way” out! That’s all great, he exclaimed, but how about learning halacha? How about opening up a Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and learning through the necessary and applicable laws? This is a great way to do Teshuvah - to come back to Hashem. By knowing the halachos and what He wants of you.
There are 74 mitzvos in Parshas Ki Seitzai which equals the gematria of "דע" - to KNOW! The greatest way to know an author is by studying his book. The greatest way to KNOW Hashem, is by studying the Torah which is Hashem’s will.
Learning the will of Hashem will actually teach us strategies to overcome the impulses of the heart and give us the tools to deal with difficult people and stressful situations in life. As R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l famously said at his Rebbetzin’s funeral, “Usually one asks mechila at a spouse’s funeral, but I have nothing to ask my wife forgiveness for, nor she from me. We lived every day of our lives according to the Shulchan Aruch!” R’ Shlomo Zalman was a great man, but he was still human! Anyone who is married knows that even in the best of relationships there may be quarrels and feelings can get hurt, even unintentionally. To live together for over sixty years and not have the need to ask forgiveness can only come from a life of pure Torah - from קירבת ה'.
The number 74 - the amount of mitzvos in this week’s parsha - is also the numerical value of "עד" which means to bear witness, for only the laws of Torah, and how one keeps them properly and correctly, can bear testimony to a person’s true level of overcoming his yetzer hara and returning to Hashem. May we all be zoche to be such a witness.