Parashat Ki Tavo

(When You Enter In)

Deuteronomy 26:1 - 29:8

Isaiah 60:1 - 60:22

In this Torah portion, Moses instructs the Israelites regarding the first fruit offering. Moses then lists the blessings the people will enjoy if they keep the commandments, and the punishments they will suffer for disobeying them.

FULL SUMMARY

HAFTARAH SUMMARY

Forging the Intergenerational Self

The Torah's commandment regarding the first fruits offers a kernel of wisdom about the importance of knowing where we came from.

More on this Torah Portion

Giving Thanks, Now and Again

There’s gratitude that is immediate and gratitude that can come only with time and labor.

Transitions and Israel

As a people, wherever the Jews are, we have a remarkable and noble mission.

First Fruits (Bikkurim)

There are many things we can do to create local culture that links God, land, and people.

A Covenant of Action

Judaism emphasizes deed, not creed.

Ritual Reinforcement

Through rituals, blessings, and warnings the Children of Israel strengthen their connections to history, land, and God.

The Worst Curse Is To Lose All Control

Among the curses for those who break the covenant is the inability to provide for themselves.

Discovering The Relationship Between Curses And Blessings

By viewing the troubles and joys of our lives as part of a continuum we can uncover blessings even in the most challenging curses.

Private Feelings, Public Consequences

The activities for which people are cursed by God directly are those committed in secret.

It’s The Joy, Not The Oy

Our religious and spiritual experiences of serving God should be joyful and uplifting.

History And Memory

The ritual of the first fruits provides an example of the tension surrounding forgetting and remembering crises and miracles in our history.

Zionism And First Fruits

The speech that farmers recited when bringing their first fruits to the Temple articulates the Zionist message.

Law, Not Love, Is The Opposite Of Hate

Law is essential to Judaism, establishing an external set of moral guidelines.

Blessings from Strangers

Reaching out to interfaith families.

The Order of Disorder

A word and its opposite may be one and the same.

Twice Warned

The two extended warnings for breaking the covenant reflect the changing relationship between the people of Israel and God.

Sharing What We Have

Ki Tavo: A resource for families.

Parashat Ki Tavo Quiz

Learn more about the weekly Torah portion.

Haftarah for Ki Tavo: Summary

Today may be dark, but tomorrow, God's light will shine on His people.

Parashat Ki Tavo: Summary

Moses instructs the Israelites regarding the first fruit offering; Moses then lists the blessings for keeping the commandments and the punishments for disobeying them.