A few weeks ago, I found myself on a late-night call with one of my closest friends who lives across the ocean. We don’t speak every day, but when we do, it feels like no time has passed. That moment reminded me of how deeply friendships sustain us, even when distance or time gets in the way.

Parashat Ki Tetze is filled with mitzvot; in fact, it contains more commandments than any other parasha in the Torah. At first glance, they may seem like a random list: returning lost objects, sending away a mother bird, treating workers fairly, creating cities of refuge. But, if you look closely, there’s a theme that connects them: responsibility toward others.

One mitzvah stands out to me: “You shall not remain indifferent” (Deut. 22:3). If you see your friend’s ox or donkey straying, you can’t just walk away. You have to stop, notice, and help bring it back. In other words: when someone is struggling, when they’ve “lost” something, whether it’s an item, their balance, or even their sense of self, we’re called to step in.

This is friendship at its core, more so in Judaism. Not just laughing together at the fun moments, but showing up when it’s inconvenient, when it takes effort, when it means pausing your own path to walk alongside someone else.

In BBYO, we often speak about brotherhood and sisterhood. But Ki Tetze reminds us that real connection isn’t just about belonging to the same chapter or being in the same room. It’s about responsibility: choosing to care, choosing not to remain indifferent.

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So here are the questions this parasha leaves me with:

• When my friends are struggling, do I notice, or do I walk past?

• How can I carry responsibility for my community in a way that strengthens our connections?

• What does it mean, in today’s world, to refuse to be indifferent?

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May we learn from Ki Tetze that friendship is built not only on shared joy, but also on showing up with care and responsibility. May our connections, whether across the street, across the ocean, or across generations, always remind us that we are never alone.

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Shabbat Shalom BBYO,

Maya Shahar

BBYO Spain