Parsha Ki Tavo continues in the same theme track with last week’s Parsha Ki Teitzei, as well as the string of previous Parshiyot in discussing Mitzvot which teach kindness, compassion and attentiveness to others.
Ki Tavo begins with the Halachot of Bikkurim — the first fruits which were brought to the Kohen as both thanksgiving and rememberance of Pharaoh’s cruelty and Hashem’s deliverance of B’nai Yisrael from Mitzrayim to a land flowing with milk and honey. Our Parsha then enunciates the laws concerning Ma’aser and it’s declaration regarding the required tithes.
The Parsha also relates Hashem’s command regarding the Mitzvot of writing Torah on 12 huge stones, in all 70 languages, to be placed on the East Side of the Jordon River, in what was Mo’av. Then the B’nai Yisrael were to construct a Mizbeiyach on which korbonot were to be offered. We are told about the assembly to take place on Mts. Gerizim and Eival, and in the valley in between, where the Brachot and K’lalot are to be pronounced upon B’Nai Yisrael’s entrance into Eretz Yisrael.
In enunciating these Mitzvot, our Parsha teaches the importance of doing Mitzvot quickly, as epitomized by bring the Bikkurim, striking while the irons are hot, eagerly and B’Simcha — with happiness.
So, what is the relationship between the importance of doing Mitzvot quickly and the Mitzvot Bein Adom L’Chaveiro listed throughout both Parshiyot Ki Teitzei and Ki Tavo and the writing of Torah in 70 languages?
Shem Mishmuel writes on Parsha Shoftim that when Klal Yisrael is fighting Holy Wars, “they must set aside their private concerns for their own well-being and survival in the war … They must feel that the battle is not for themselves, but for Hashem and his glory. …This level of control is no easy matter; it involves nullifying one’s private concerns before the will of Hashem. ” (Shem Mishmuel, page 404) That is, it seems, to act quickly and decisively and not equivocate.
It seems also that only when we are selfless and subvert our own personal agenda when doing Mitzvot, we will merit National Yahdut and thus collectively merit to “blot out the rememberance of Amalek from under the heaven…”
The Midrash Says asks what the purpose was for placing huge rocks with the Torah inscribed in 70 languages on the East Side of the Jordon River and in Gilgul, at the entrance to Eretz Yisrael. It offers an explanation; that they served as a warning to the Gentiles to accept upon themselves the Noachide Laws. (The Midrash Says, Parsha Ki Tavo, pages 294-295)
But we could suggest that since we don’t now have the sets of 12 huge, Torah-inscribed stones, maybe we have another way to achieve the goal — purification of the outer part of the heart through stimulation of the inner, Divine soul. We have it in our collective power with our Chessed, our Tzeddaka to help in some degree to alleviate the suffering of our fellow Jews.
Could there be a more appropriate time than now to be a part this Mitzvah, to strike while the irons are hot, to improve and enhance or performance of chassadim eagerly and B’Simcha just before the Chaggim? And who can know what Mitzvah just might tip the scales and bring the Ge’ula instantly?
“And Schilling’s in the stretch with the bases jammed in the 9th with two out and a full count on Ryan Howard. Will Howard do it ‘in the clutch’ when the chips are down and the game, possibly the wild card on the line? Or will Schilling get out of the jam and win yet another game? And the pitch….”
Will we set aside, subjugate or nullify our private concerns before the will of Hashem and his glory?? V’Ahavta, L’rei’echa, Komocha!
May it be in this year and beyond, that we have our brethren; the refugee families from Gush Katif and the Shomron, as well as our brethren in the North now going through recovery from the recent daily Katushya barrages (may they again live in peace without disruption and destruction by Katushyas and other Hezbollah weaponry), as well as our dear brother, Jonathan Pollard (may he soon know freedom and long life in Eretz Yisrael) and the lives of the 3 captive Chayalim be central in our thoughts, prayers, chassadim and actions. May this abominable period of history called hitnatkut be as a bad dream.
May we be zocha in this coming year to take giant steps toward fulfilling Hashem’s blueprint of B’nai Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, “Yom Hashem V’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v’yameinu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt is an Oleh, writer and commentator on news and events in Eretz Yisrael. He is the founder and director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network.