Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8
Parshat Ki Tavo
Ki Tavo begins with bikkurim, the first fruits brought to the Temple with a declaration of thanks, and the tithe declaration. On entering the land the people are to inscribe the Torah on stones. Moses then sets out the blessings for keeping the covenant and the tochachah, the long warning of what will follow if it is abandoned.
Video classes
Essays
E-Lights Ki Tavo – Two Paths to Victory: Confronting Evil and Causing It to Flee Our enemies “will come out against you in one direction and flee from you in seven directions.” Two forms of victory, and the seven rabbinical commandments. Parsha Ki Savo – The Missing Letter vov Parshas Ki Savo is known for the blessings and curses that were promised to the Jewish people for compliance or non-compliance… Parsha Ki Savo – ...and the Pursuit of Happiness The pursuit of happiness is synonymous with the search for our inner soul. As long as we forget that search, genuine happiness remains an elusive goal. Parsha Ki Savo – Be Happy! There are two dimensions of happiness: Being happy and making others happy. These two dimensions are paralleled by external and internal joy. Parsha Ki Savo – Copper and Iron Copper and Iron are metaphors for substances that express an inferior spiritual state. But they also represent the ideal of yearning for higher goals and total transformation. Parsha Ki Savo – First Fruits True joy is determined not by how you feel but by how you make another feel. Complete joy is determined by how you make everyone feel! Parsha Ki Savo – Get Out of Galus and Be Your Own Baker! A liberated mindset is to ignore the marketplace of ideas and search within one’s own soul and Torah teachings for guidance and inspiration. Parsha Ki Savo – Gratitude Ii Humans are capable of saying thank you without even thinking what it means. Indeed, humans suffer from cognitive dissonance. The cure is to think what thank you” really means. Parsha Ki Savo – Gratitude A phrase, simultaneously, simple and profound is, “thank you.” It acknowledges that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Parsha Ki Savo – Healthy Insanity Insanity is not a pejorative if we transcend our intellect rather than go beneath it. Some of the most successful people who changed the face of the earth were regarded as crazy. We applaud that craziness when it gets us ready for Moshiach! Parsha Ki Savo – In the Field and in the City Serving G-d with formality is a positive thing. But G-d wants us to serve Him in informal ways and informal contexts as well. Parsha Ki Savo – Jewish Domination There are many forms of domination. One can exercise control over others or exercise control over oneself. Parsha Ki Savo – Keeping Our Heads Above A mind/head is a terrible thing to waste. It is equally objectionable to keep our head immersed in things that are “down,” beneath us. Parsha Ki Savo – L’chaim-To Life! Life begins when our egos diminish and we unite with others. Great Jewish leaders unify us because they instill the true inner life of Torah into our lives. Parsha Ki Savo – Only Blessings Criticism helps to eradicate negative traits. Positive reinforcement helps to reveal and actualize our positive traits. We live in the age where we need the latter rather than the former. Parsha Ki Savo – Stand Up! Mitzvos come in many varieties and are all good. However, a Mitzvah stands out when it is done with excellence; both objective and subjective. We should acknowledge those whose Mitzvah observances express that excellence. Parsha Ki Savo – Serving with Your Enemy The most meaningful blessing is when we know that our erstwhile enemy has become our friend. All of the material aspects of life including our bodies may seem to be our adversaries. Our mission is to harness them to work for the common cause together. Parsha Ki Savo – Thanks, Hashem! The depth of happiness in our lives is in direct proportion with the depth of giving to others. The Messianic Age will feature the purist and most intense form of joy. Parsha Ki Savo – The Individual and the Covenantal Today is the most important day of your life. Today is the day we receive the Torah as it was given the first day. There is an individual “today” and a communal “today.” Parsha Ki Savo – The Joy of Removing Doubts A wise man once said, “the greatest joy comes from the resolution of doubts. The difference between an exile and Redemption mindset is the degree to which we harbor no doubts about our role in this world. Parsha Ki Savo – The Seven Blessed Illnesses Even a Jew estranged from his or her Judaism possesses a hidden love for G-d embedded deeply in his or her soul. To arouse this love, one must reflect on G-d’s greatness and His presence in our lives, among other meditations. Parsha Ki Savo – Totality! If we had to find one word that describes Judaism it could be the word “totality.” While the Torah values every single detail of a Mitzvah, its goal is to realize total involvement with every nuance of life snf every Mitzvah. Parsha Ki Savo – Walk in His Ways! Art is imitation of the physical world, which is itself an imitation of the spiritual worlds. When we imitate G-d we experience the ultimate art-form because we are imitating something real. Parsha Ki Savo – “When Father Reads There Are No Curses” Curses are not real. Our default position is our blessed relationship with G-d as our Father. The definition of a curse is the hiding of that natural relationship.