Torah Commentary

In this parashah, the Israelites are at an inflection point in their journey to peoplehood. Moses will not be entering the Promised Land with them, but can they manage on their own without his guidance?

Our encounter with Parashat Ki Tavo is focused on blessings and curses -- the opportunities and consequences of following or not following God's commandments are laid out in (sometimes gory) detail. But before all the blessings and the curses is an important moment of context setting in the very first verse of the portion.

Each year, my family and I sign up for a farm share (where a portion of a farm's produce is purchased up front, before it is grown each season, in exchange for boxes of seasonal produce throughout the farming season) in our local community.

In his 1966 novel, The Gates of the Forest, Elie Wiesel famously wrote, "God created [hu]man[s] because [God] loves stories." Indeed, each of our lives is a story that is told to the world. Our stories involve many characters, have plot twists, and offer lessons that teach something of the nature of life. Our life stories highlight what is important to us, what ideals guide us, and the significant experiences that have shaped who we are. Every life is a story. Telling that story helps us remember who we are.

This week’s portion, Ki Tavo, is read on the Saturday morning before Selichot, the late-night service that ushers in the High Holidays.