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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.
And so, a short pitch for the latest project of the Sefer Torah Recycling Network, unlike previous projects of providing Sifrei Torah to needy Yeshuvim. This time, we’re taking a bit of a different direction.
Imagine; in Eretz Yisrael, a loved one – a child, a parent, a spouse, a sibling was Chas V’Chalila just niftar. Maybe it was in an auto accident, or after a long and eventually terminal illness. Maybe it was sudden; a heart attack, a stroke. Maybe the deceased was a terror victim or a soldier killed in ambush, etc, etc.
The family, caught up in it’s grief has soo many things on their minds — the last thing they need to be burdened with is setting up a Shiva House. The last thing that needs to be occupying their thoughts is; where to borrow a Sefer Torah for the aveilut period, an aron to house it, tables, chairs, shiva chairs, siddurim, chumashim and where they have to go to pick up all of this.
The Sefer Torah Recycling Network is hard at work developing a Gemach to facilitate delivery and furnishing of Batei Aveilut for the 7 day Shiva period. Based on research, including speaking with Gabbaim and Rabbonim, there seems not to exist in Israel such a full-service, one call Gemach and delivery/pick up service as is envisioned.
But your help is needed to provide this service.
A fund raising campaign is being embarked upon which has as its goal; to accomplish the Mitzvah of creating a “One-stop Full-Service Gemach for Batei Aveilut” in the Ramat Beit Shemesh/Beit Shemesh area.
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 since my team plays the Florida Marlins this coming Shabbos, it’s Ricky Nolasco running a full count on Ryan Howard with the bases jammed with two out in a tight game. Will Howard do it ‘in the clutch’ when the chips are down with the game, possibly the NL East division race on the line? Or will Nolasco escape the jam as the Phillies season falls in tatters? 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 we, the B’nai Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently settled and be made totally whole, that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard and captive Gilad Shalit and the other MIAs be liberated alive and be returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem and that we fulfill 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, as Dov Shurin sings; “Yom Hashem V’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v’yameinu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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.