Ki Tavo

Hi,

This week's portion is called Ki Tavo.

The portion begins with our obligation to remember that Israel is not our land, but rather it is Gd’s land. This is played out in two Mitzvot: The bringing of the Bikkurim (First Fruits) to Jerusalem, and the timely processing of Tithes.

Bikkurim: The central element of the Bikkurim is the Bikkurim-bearer's formal declaration, recited inside the Temple. The declaration's text includes a five-line summary of early Jewish history, culminating in Gd's delivery of the Jews into Israel. With this text the Bikkurim-bearer acknowledged that his land, and his success, has come from Gd. This Mitzvah of bringing Bikkurim is performed only in the times when there is a Temple in Jerusalem.

Tithes: Under this Mitzvah, a percentage of one's produce goes to the Kohanim, and a percentage goes to the Levites. A third tithe is given to the poor in some years, and in other years was consumed by the owner, in Jerusalem, in the time of the Temple. This third tithe is distributed in its different ways based on a three-year cycle, and at the end of each three-year cycle the owner is responsible to make sure he has properly distributed the tithes of the previous three years. If he has done so, he appears in the Temple and declares the proper disposition of tithes, and asks Gd to bless us.
We still separate these tithes today, but we no longer distribute them due to the absence of a Temple and its rites of purification.

The portion then delivers the instruction for the Jews to record the Torah on stones on their entry into Israel. This would serve a dual purpose of educating both the Jews and the rest of the world.

The Jews are then reminded of their covenant. The Levites deliver this reminder, speaking of great reward and warning of potential punishment. This leads into the Tochachah, a frightening warning of punishment, delivered twice in the Torah - once at the end of the book of Vayyikra (Leviticus), and once here.

The fearsome Tochachah runs through to the end of the Torah portion, and the next portion begins with the statement, "You are still here today; don't panic."

Have a great day,
Mordechai