Ki Tavo

📜 The Story

Parshat Ki Tavo opens with a beautiful mitzvah called bikkurim. Once Bnei Yisrael settle in the Land of Israel, every farmer is told to take the very first fruits that grow on his trees, place them in a basket, and bring them to the Beit Hamikdash as a gift to Hashem. There the farmer gives the basket to the kohen and recites a special declaration thanking Hashem, retelling how our nation grew from Yaakov Avinu's small family into a great people, and how Hashem brought us out of Egypt and into this good land.

The parsha also teaches the mitzvah of viduy maasrot, a declaration a person makes after making sure all the tithes from their produce were properly given to the Leviim, the poor, and set aside as they should be. This teaches how important it is to be honest and careful with our mitzvot, not just to do them but to make sure they were done correctly.

Moshe then commands that on the very day Bnei Yisrael cross the Jordan River into the Land, they must set up large stones on Har Eival, cover them with plaster, and write the words of the Torah on them clearly for everyone to read. They are also told to build an altar there. Then the twelve tribes split into two groups, six tribes stand on Har Gerizim and six on Har Eival, while the Leviim stand between the mountains and call out blessings for keeping the Torah and warnings for not keeping it, and the people answer Amen after each one.

This is followed by a long list of wonderful blessings promised to Bnei Yisrael if they keep the Torah and mitzvot with love, including the famous verse, "Blessed are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out." The parsha also contains a section warning what could happen if the nation turns away from Hashem's ways, teaching children how precious and protective a life of Torah and mitzvot really is.

Ki Tavo ends with Moshe reminding the people of Hashem's constant care during their forty years in the desert, how their clothing did not wear out and their shoes did not fall apart, even though they were walking such a long journey. Moshe encourages the people to open their hearts, to understand all that Hashem has done for them, and to walk faithfully in His ways as they prepare to enter their new home.