Parashat Ki Tavo
PARSHA OVERVIEW
When the Jewish People dwell in the Land of Israel, its first fruits are to be taken to the Temple and given to the kohen. This is done in a ceremony that expresses recognition that it is
On the last day of Pesach of the fourth and seventh years of the seven-year shemitta cycle, a person must recite a disclosure stating that he has indeed distributed the tithes to the appropriate people in the prescribed manner. With this mitzvah Moshe concludes the commandments that Hashem has told him to give to the Jewish People. Moshe exhorts them to walk in Hashem’s ways because they are set aside as a treasured people to Him.
When the Jewish People cross the Jordan River they are to make a new commitment to the Torah. Huge stones are to be erected and the Torah is to be written on them in the world's seventy primary languages, after which they are to be covered over with a thin layer of plaster. Half the tribes are to stand on Mount Gerizim, and half on Mount Eval, and the levi'im will stand in a valley between the two mountains. The levi'im will recite twelve commandments, and all the people will answer "amen" to the blessings and the curses. Moshe then details the blessings that will be bestowed upon the Jewish People, blessings that are both physical and spiritual. However, if the Jewish People do not keep the Torah, Moshe details a chilling picture of destruction, resulting in exile and wandering among the nations.
PARSHA INSIGHTS
Expressing Thanks
“You will come to whoever is the kohen in those days and you will say to him…” (26:3)
A blisteringly hot Wednesday.
Suddenly there’s a power outage. A visit from the electrician reveals the worst: “It’s the compressor in your A/C. You need a new one. Trouble is, the manufacturer can only get it here next Tuesday.”
“But what are we going to do on Shabbat?”
“Does your Shabbat table fit in the fridge? Listen, I think I can get you a new compressor before Shabbat. I’ll do my best.”
“You’re a tzaddik!”
And sure enough, by Thursday lunchtime the new compressor is in place and the house returns to its regular cool temperature.
On Friday afternoon the electrician’s phone rings. He notes the caller ID — it’s the people with the new compressor.
“Trouble,” he thinks to himself as he answers the phone.
“We just wanted to call you and thank you so much for fixing our air conditioner. You’ve really made our Shabbat. Thank you so much! Shabbat Shalom!”
Gratitude should never remain implicit. It should be expressed.
In this week’s portion, the Torah instructs us to give bikkurim — the first fruits — to the kohen. However, it’s not enough just to give them.
“You will come to whoever is the kohen in those days and you shall say to him.…” Rashi comments on the phrase “and you shall say to him” — “because you are not an ingrate.” In other words, what prevents a person from being an ingrate is the verbalization of his gratitude. Anything less is considered lacking.
