Ki Thavo
Parshat Ki-Tavo
This morning’s Torah reading lists the procedure for accepting the covenant (brit) with God. Upon entering the Land of Israel the people had to build an altar. They had to hear the provisions and stipulations of the covenant between God and the entire community.
First Aliyah - Deuteronomy chapter 26:1-11 pp. 1140-1142
When the people enter the land they are to gather together the first fruits and bring them to the central sanctuary. There they are to recite, in front of the priests, a brief history of the people including how they used to be slaves but now they are free. Every year the people celebrated the first fruits and eventually it became part of the celebration of Shavu’oth.
Second Aliyah 26:12-15 pp. 1142-1143
A reminder about setting aside the tithe for the Levites, the poor, the fatherless and the widow
Third Aliyah - 26:16-19 pp. 1143-1144
The people should promise to follow in God’s ways so that God can raise them above other nations.
Fourth Aliyah - 27:1-10 pp. 1144-1146
After crossing the Jordan River they are to write these laws onto great stones and set them up on Mt. Ebal (the mountain of curses). There they are to sacrifice peace offerings.
Fifth Aliyah - 27:11-28:6 pp. 1146-1149
An elaborate ceremony is described for the giving of blessings and curses. The tribes of Shimon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin are to stand on Mt. Gerezim (the mountain of blessings) and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulunm, Dan and Naftali are to stand on Mt. Ebal for the curses. The Levites are to pronounce the curses. Following that, a list of rewards is mentioned for following God’s ways.
Sixth Aliyah - 28:7-69 pp. 1149-1157
This aliyah is known as the tochecha (retribution). It is a long list (like the one in the book of Leviticus) of punishments and tragedies that will befall the people if they neglect God. It is traditional to read this in a low voice because it is so horrifying.
Seventh Aliyah - 29:1-8 pp. 1158-1159
The portion concludes with Moses’ reemphasis of the commandment to follow the covenant.
Maftir - 29:6-8 p. 1159
Haftorah - Isaiah chapter 60 pp. 1161-1164
Just as our portion contains the promise that Israel will be set high above the nations, so too does Isaiah reemphasize that point. In this 6th of the seven special Haftorahs, between the 9th of Av and Rosh Hashanah, Isaiah promises the people that they will be a light unto all the nations and all the nations will follow that light.
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