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Ki Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Ki Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8)

“My father was a fugitive Aramean” (Deuteronomy 26:5).

We must never forget that our history began when we were refugees, fugitives. We
must always try to help those who are in tough situations, especially refugees and
fugitives. Welcome them and help them retain their dignity and their homes.

Parsha Ki Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא Torah Summary:

The Israelites are instructed to express their gratitude to God for their bountiful harvests and freedom from slavery by tithing ten percent of their crops for the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. (26) The people are told to display on large stones God’s commandments for all to see. (27:1-8) The Levites are to proclaim curses upon those who violate God’s commandments. (27:15-26) The Israelites are told that if they obey God’s mitzvot faithfully, they will receive every blessing imaginable. They are also told that if they do not fulfill their brit with God, many curses will descend upon them. (28:1-69) Moses reminds the Israelites of the miracles they witnessed in the wilderness and commands them to observe the terms of the covenant so that they may succeed in all that they undertake. (29:1-8) Ki Tavo – כִּי-תָבוֹא “My father was a fugitive Aramean” (Deuteronomy 26:5). We must never forget that our history began when we were refugees, fugitives. We must always try to help those who are in tough situations, especially refugees and fugitives. Welcome them and help them retain their dignity and their homes.

Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19)

It’s The Torah’s richest portion when it comes to Mitzvot.

Going to war needs moral boundaries: we must not exploit the weak, never ignore a person who has fallen on the way, not to use other people. Again, and again, the Torah reminds us that even when reality is complex, even when there is a struggle and even when we have power, there are boundaries that we are forbidden to cross.

“You will not be able to ignore”. The Torah requires us not only to avoid harm, but also not to look away when we see harm or injustice. Jewish morality begins with the ability to see the other, and with the responsibility we take for what is happening around us.

Parsha Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא Torah Summary:

Moses reviews a wide variety of laws regarding family, animals, and property. (21:10–22:12)
Various civil and criminal laws are delineated, including those regarding sexual relationships, interaction with non-Israelites, loans, vows, and divorce. (22:13–24:5)
Laws of commerce pertaining to loans, fair wages, and proper weights and measures are given. (24:10–25:16)
The parashah concludes with the commandment to remember for all time the most heinous act committed against the Israelites—Amalek’s killing of the old, weak, and infirm after the Israelites left Egypt. (25:17–19)

Ki Teitzei – כִּי-תֵצֵא

It’s The Torah’s richest portion when it comes to Mitzvot.
Going to war needs moral boundaries: we must not exploit the weak, never ignore a person who has fallen on the way, not to use other people. Again, and again, the Torah reminds us that even when reality is complex, even when there is a struggle and even when we have power, there are boundaries that we are forbidden to cross.
“You will not be able to ignore”. The Torah requires us not only to avoid harm, but also not to look away when we see harm or injustice. Jewish morality begins with the ability to see the other, and with the responsibility we take for what is happening around us.

Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9)

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃

Equitable justice you shall pursue, in order that you may thrive and inherit the land that Adonai your God is giving to you.

(Deuteronomy 16:20)

By repeating the phrase “justice, justice,” the Torah teaches us that true justice can only come from a place of equity. When we pursue an equitable society, each person in our communities can feel seen, accepted, and valued for who they are, receiving the treatment they deserve from the people in their communities, as well as fairness under the law. May we all pursue equitable justice for ourselves and every person in our lives.

Parsha Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים Torah Summary:

Laws regarding both sacred and secular legislation are addressed. The Israelites are told that in every dealing they should pursue justice in order to merit the land that God is giving them. (16:18–18:8) The people are warned to avoid sorcery and witchcraft, the abhorrent practices of their idolatrous neighbors. (18:9–22) God tells them that should an Israelite unintentionally kill another, he may take sanctuary in any of three designated cities of refuge. (19:1–13) Laws to be followed during times of peace and times of war are set forth. (19:14–21:9) Shof’tim – שֹׁפְטִים צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ Equitable justice you shall pursue, in order that you may thrive and inherit the land that Adonai your God is giving to you. (Deuteronomy 16:20) By repeating the phrase “justice, justice,” the Torah teaches us that true justice can only come from a place of equity. When we pursue an equitable society, each person in our communities can feel seen, accepted, and valued for who they are, receiving the treatment they deserve from the people in their communities, as well as fairness under the law. May we all pursue equitable justice for ourselves and every person in our lives.

R’eih – רְאֵה (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: R’eih – רְאֵה (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17)

רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃

See! Today I am placing before you blessing and curse… (Deuteronomy 11:26)

The opening of this week’s Torah Portion is a powerful reminder that life is full of choices. Some choices are definitely harder than others, so if we choose to lean into the blessing of each choice we make, we can live our lives more fully and bring more of our own, special light into the world.

Parsha R’eih – רְאֵה Torah Summary:

God places both blessing and curse before the Israelites. They are taught that blessing will come through the observance of God’s laws. (11:26–32) Moses’ third discourse includes laws about worship in a central place (12:1–28); injunctions against idolatry (12:29–13:19) and self-mutilation (14:1–2); dietary rules (14:3–21); and laws about tithes (14:22–25), debt remission (15:1–11), the release and treatment of Hebrew slaves (15:12–18), and firstlings (15:19–23). Moses reviews the correct sacrifices to be offered during the Pilgrim Festivals—Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot. (16:1-17) R’eih – רְאֵה רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃ See! Today I am placing before you blessing and curse… (Deuteronomy 11:26) The opening of this week’s Torah Portion is a powerful reminder that life is full of choices. Some choices are definitely harder than others, so if we choose to lean into the blessing of each choice we make, we can live our lives more fully and bring more of our own, special light into the world.