Overview of the Weekly
Reading: Ki Tavo
To be read on 18
Elul 5764 (Sep. 4)
Torah:Deut. 26:1-29:8
Haftorah:
Isaiah 60 (6th
of the Seven Haftorahs of Consolation)
Ki
Tavo is the 7th Reading out of 11 in Deuteronomy and
50th overall, and 13th out of 54 in overall
length.
Pirkei
Avot:
Chapter (Three), Four
Ki
Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8) opens with the laws of bringing
first fruits and tithes. The Jews are reminded that if they keep
the commandments, G-d will reward them. The Jews are told that on
the day they cross over the Jordan River into Israel, they should
inscribe the Torah in 70 languages onto stones. The stones are to
be brought to Mt. Eval and an altar is to be erected with sacrifices
offered upon it. Certain tribes are to stand on Mt. Eval and some
on Mt. Grizim. The Levites are to stand between the two mountains
and announce the blessings and curses for fulfilling G-d's commandments
or not. Moshe then makes a covenant between G-d and the Jews, listing
in detail the rewards for fulfilling G-d's will and the consequences
for not doing so. Ki Tavo concludes with Moshe reminding the Jews
of the miracles and victories wrought for them by G-d, and that
by keeping this covenant, G-d will grant them success.
FROM THE MASTERS
OF KABBALA (K:50-64/Ki
Tavo)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:50-64/Ki
Tavo)
If
it was not that the Holy One blessed be He appeared first to arouse
mercy on Israel so that they not scrutinize their judgment, Israel
would not be able to continue to exist in the world.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy
Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:50-64/Ki
Tavo)
As
we have also seen previously, the involvement in the material world
is the feminine side of our personalities. It is thus the light of
the feminine principle that must directed upward, to the source of
Divine beneficence (G-d's chesed).
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Shelah,
Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:50-64/Ki
Tavo )
G-d
teaches us that performance of His commandments must be accompanied
by a greater joy than the joy one feels for all the material blessings
G-d has bestowed on one.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V50-64/Ki
Tavo )
"Cursed is the man who will make an engraved or molten
image." (Deut. 27:15)
This is the only curse about which the Torah uses the future tense;
all others enumerated in the "Reproof" are in the present.
The reason is that when it comes to idolatry, thought is considered
the same as action. Planning to make an idol is thus just as contemptible
as actually making one.
(Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropolye) (from L'chaim #583)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
(W:50-64/Ki Tavo)
With each Torah portion during the month of Elul, we come closer
and closer to the High Holidays, our days of judgment and the annual
time to renew and improve our connection to G-d. In Shoftim we were
told to put judges and police at each of our own 'gates'. Ki Tetzay
spoke about doing battle with the evil inclination. Ki Tavo, this
week's portion, talks about coming into the Land of Israel. What is
the message in the portion that helps prepare us for the High Holidays?
The first word of the portion is "Vehaya"-'and it
was'. The Talmud teaches that this word denotes a happy event. Being
happy is a crucial ingredient in preparing ourselves for the Days
of Awe.
Rebbe Leibel Eiger, in his book Toras Emes, points out that
only two portions begin with the word 'Vehaya'- Parshat Ekev
and Parshat Ki Tavo. The Sages tell us that the three most important
things that a person needs to struggle to acquire in his life are
Torah, Israel and Mashiach. Mashiach is something that a person
is supposed to work on all of the time. Ekev refers to Torah (see
Rashi on location). Ki Tavo is about the Land of Israel. When we are
successful at acquiring Torah and the Land of Israel we should be
happy!
The Mai HaShiluach points out that this week's Torah portion
immediately follows the verses at the end of Ki Tetzay commanding
us to destroy Amalek. The lesson here is that we can only truly enter
Israel only when we have destroyed Amalek. What is Amalek at a personal
level today? The word Amalek and the word in Hebrew for 'doubt' have
the same numerical value. Amalek is the confusion and doubt we feel
in our service of G-d. We are all being pulled and distracted by the
world in so many ways. Pushing away our doubts and forcing ourselves
to focus on connecting to G-d is how we fulfill the commandment of
destroying Amalek today. This allows us to enter the Holy Land and
be happy!
There was a chossid of Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Pshische who was known
to always be in a sour mood. Once, he was detained on his way to his
Rebbe for Shabbat and only arrived on Sunday, unhappily describing
all of the details. The Rebbe listened to him patiently and then said,
'Shabbat is the most hospitable host. When Rosh Chodesh (the first
day of the new month) falls on Shabbat, Shabbat gives up the last
part of the Torah reading and the musaf prayer. When a holiday (like
Pesach, Shavuot or Sukkot) falls on Shabbat, Shabbat goes even 'further'
by giving away all of the Torah reading and all of the prayers. When
Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat (like this year), Shabbat goes so far
as to give away the Torah reading, the prayers and the meals.
But what happens when the saddest day of the year, the 9th of Av,
the day the Temple was destroyed, falls on Shabbat? Shabbat gives
nothing at all, and even pushes off the fast to Sunday. Why? Because
a guest with a sour disposition, Shabbat would prefer not to receive
until after Shabbat!
The month of Elul is about doing teshuva. But teshuva
is most effective when we do it with happiness, knowing that with
our effort we are connecting to G-d. May you and your family be signed
and sealed for a good and sweet new year.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
Leiter
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
For all our insights for this parsha:
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