KI TAVO, DEVARIM 26:1-29:8
Parshat Ki Tavo, at 26:1 :
Parshat Ki Tavo26:1-2,
וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־תָב֣וֹא אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַֽחֲלָ֑ה וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ וְיָשַׁ֥בְתָּ בָּֽהּ
“And it will be, when you come into the land which the Lord, your God, gives you for an inheritance, and you possess it and settle in it,
וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֞ מֵֽרֵאשִׁ֣ית | כָּל־פְּרִ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר תָּבִ֧יא מֵֽאַרְצְךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָ֖ךְ וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ בַטֶּ֑נֶא וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְחַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן שְׁמ֖וֹ שָֽׁם
that you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you will bring from your land, which the Lord, your God, is giving you. And you shall put [them] into a basket and go to the place which the Lord, your God, will choose to have His Name dwell there”.
The Mishnah Bikkurim asks another question (1:3): What are the specific “fruits” that fall into the category of fruits of the ground?
One only brings Bikkurim from the seven species; special to the Land of Israel,
These are the seven fruits or species for which Israel was renowned, namely wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, oil olives and date-honey (Devarim 8:8). And they must be of high quality.
Raisins can substitute for grapes, but wine
may not. Any thoughts, why?
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In Ki Tavo a farmer who owns his land brings ripened first fruits from the seven species to the Kohen
He makes a two-part declaration, the first part of which is in Hebrew. Since some of the farmers were Hebrew-language challenged (Is there anyone out there who can relate?), the Chazal had a Hebrew speaker make the declaration so that the farmer would not be embarrassed.
The rationale
being that if the farmer was to be embarrassed he may be hesitant to bring the
first fruits. This custom is employed
today when a person is called up to the Torah, again not to cause
embarrassment.
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At 26:17-19 we learn that we have entered into a contract with Hashem: We have chosen Him as our God. In turn He has chosen us as His לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה, “treasured nation”.
And if you have any doubts what this means:
וּלְתִתְּךָ֣ עֶלְי֗וֹן עַ֤ל כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם֙
“to establish you above all the peoples.”
It may seem hardly
politically correct, perhaps even racist.
And whatever you may think, it is an enormous burden.
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In the Parshah at 27:9 Moshe and the Priests say to us:
וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה וְהַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם, אֶל כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר: הַסְכֵּת וּשְׁמַע, יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
"And Moses and the Priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying: 'Silence! Hear, O Israel; today you have become a people for the LORD your God."
I am curious
about the word "הַסְכֵּת" , translated as "Silence!". It occurs nowhere else in the entire Torah.
The Haftarah
portion for Parshah Ki Tavo emphasizes the concept of a "chosen people". It is taken from the Prophet Isaiah, 60:1-22. It is one of the seven weekly
consolation messages that we receive prior to Rosh Hashannah. And it is indeed beautiful. Consider verses 1 and 3:
קוּמִי אוֹרִי, כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ; וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה, עָלַיִךְ זָרָח
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has shone upon you”.
וְהָלְכוּ גוֹיִם, לְאוֹרֵךְ; וּמְלָכִים, לְנֹגַהּ זַרְחֵךְ
“And nations
shall walk by your light and kings by the brilliance of your shine”.
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Continuing
with the Haftorah portion for Parshat KI TAVO, at 60:10 it reads:
“And foreigners shall build your walls, and their kings shall serve you, for in My wrath I struck you, and in My grace have I had mercy on you.”
וּבָנוּ בְנֵי-נֵכָר חֹמֹתַיִךְ, וּמַלְכֵיהֶם יְשָׁרְתוּנֶךְ: כִּי בְקִצְפִּי הִכִּיתִיךְ, וּבִרְצוֹנִי רִחַמְתִּיךְ
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KI TAVO QUIZ
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Max has come up with a quiz that relates to
this week's Parshah. Attached are his questions
and answers. How did you do? Maybe
you have to study more; I do.
Wishing You a Good Shabbos,
Stay inside, safe and healthy,
Mick
1-How do we give Bikurim (First Fruit. )
nowadays ?
GIVE GIFTS AND PRESENTS TO TALMID CHACHOMIM
SUPPORTING YESHIVA AND KOLLEL
> 2-Which earns one greater reward,
performing or enjoying the Mitzvah ?
THE JOYOUS ATTITUDE THAT ACCOMPANY A MITZVAH
IS GREATER
> 3-Which Pasuk warns us not to be spoiled
?
YOU SHALL BE HAPPY WITH ALL THE GOOD THAT
HASHEM HAS GIVEN U
> 4-What should you try living next to ?
LIVING NEXT TO BAIS MIDRASH OR BAIS KENESES
> 5-How long does it take for a student to
fully grasp his Rebbe's teaching?
IT TAKES ABOUT 40 YEARS TO REAL UNDERSTAND
REBBE'S TEACHING
> 6-When was there a Mitzvah to "Sleep
Over ". ?
THOSE BRINGING BIKURIM SLEPT THE NITE OVER IN
YERUSHALAYIM
> 7-Why did King David play Music often ?
IT ENHANCED HIS SPIRITUALITY, CONDUCTIVE TO
RUACH HAKODESH
> 8-Why did the selfish man Naval die very
quickly ?
HE WAS NOT HOSPITABLE TO KING DAVID FLEEING
FROM KING SAUL
> 9-How do we know after one complete a
Mitzvah to make a wish ?
"IF YOU LISTEN TO MY COMMANDS I WILL
LISTEN TO YOURS "
> 10-Why is there 63-pesukim related to punishment and 11-for reward?
TO INSTILL FEAR IN US THAT HASHEM
PUNISHES BREAKER OF RULES
> 11-Which lesson did ACHITOFEL teach King
David ?
TO ALWAYS LEARN WITH SOMEONE ELSE FOR
CLARIFICATION
> 12-Is it wrong to learn Torah alone ?
IT IS ALWAYS PREFERRED TO STUDY WITH SOMEONE
ELSE
> 13-Is Rain good or bad for one's business
?
GEMARA STATES THAT RAIN INCREASES FINANCIAL
BLESSING
> 14-Which Mitzvah some men repeat as extra
credit ?
SOME MEN WEAR A 2ND. PAIR OF TEFILLIN KNOWN AS
RABBEINU'S TAM
> 15-Which book is most beneficial for
one's business ?
IF ONE STUDIES TORAH DILIGENTLY IT BRINGS
GREAT MERIT
> 16-What should one do if his Tefillin
strap was turned inside out ?
ONE SHOULD FAST IF STRAPS WERE FOUND TURNED
INSIDE OUT
> 17-Why are there 49-curses in Vayikra,
and 98-curses in Devarim ?
49 CURSES REPRESENT EXILE AFTER THE
DESTRUCTION OF 1ST TEMPLE
98 CURSES REPRESENT EXILE AFTER THE
DESTRUCTION OF 2ND TEMPLE
> 18-Why so many tragedies befallen the
Jewish People in history ?
DUE TO LACK OF SEVING HASHEM WITH A JOYOUS
HEART
> 19-Why was a string used to mark the
first fruit ?
SO AS TO NOT MIX UP WITH OTHER LATER FRUITS
> 20-How should we emulate HASHEM ?
TO BE GIVING, MERCIFUL , COMPASSIONATE , AND
PATIENT
TO EMULATE HIS PLEASANT AND CARING WAYS
> 21-Where do we find the saying 'Rich get
Richer, Poor gets Poorer ?
WHEN BRINGING BIKURIM, RICH MEN KEPT THEIR
FRUIT BASKETS
AND POOR MEN HAD TO GIVE THEIRS TO THE KOHANIM
> 22-What is the difference between the
curses in Vayikra and Devarim ?
THEY REFLECT DEVASTATION AFTER FIRST AND
SECOND TEMPLE RUIN
> 23-Why do we make 7-Berachos for 7-days
for Bride & Groom ?
TO COUNTER THE 49 CURSES MENTIONED IN VAYIKRA
(7x7=49)
> 24-When did the obligation to bring
Bikkurim begin ?
WHEN THE LAND OF ISRAEL WAS CONQUERED AND
DIVIDED
> 25-Which Arami tried to destroy " my
father"?
LAVAN, FATHER OF RACHEL AND LEAH, YAAKOV FATHER
IN LAW
> 26-Who
"causes the blind to go astray "?
ANY ONE WHO INTENTIONALLY GIVES BAD ADVICE
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