When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week we read from Parashat Ki Tavo (כִּי-תָבוֹא), the 50th weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings.
According to Wikipedia, Ki Tavo (כִּי-תָבוֹא), Deuteronomy 26:1 through 29:8, contains 6,811 Hebrew letters, 1,747 words, 122 verses and makes up 261 lines of the Torah scroll. Ki Tavo includes a discussion of the ceremony of the first fruits, bikkurim (בִּכּוּרִים), the law of tithes and a list of blessings for observance of the law and and curses for violation of the law..
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Ki Tavo for Shabbat September 13, 2025 aka 20 Elul 5784:
“As we approach the beginning of the Days of Awe beginning with Selichot, Moses our teacher and prophet gives us the bottom line: Live a life of fulfillment and blessing by following the Torah or descend into the pit of hell on earth with idolatry, injustice, immorality and hedonism.
Moses describes the life of blessing in many less words than the consequences of curses. Why is this so? Does he need to be so voluminous and specific in enumerating all the negatives while minimizing and generalizing the blessings with many less words. The answers are given to us by our sages who teach us in Mishneh Avot that Blessing begets Blessing while Sin begets more Sin. When one lives, G-d forbid, a life of total self-centeredness and narcissism, each step downward releases new previously undiscovered curses which make life even more painful and burdensome. The Torah enumerates this in Ke Tavo by saying, “when it is nighttime, you will yearn for the light and when it is daytime you will yearn for the darkness of night”.
Living a life of mitzvot and kindness by caring for G-d’s creatures and loving life brings about many blessings which some of which may be unexpected and surprising! The blessings of loving family, friends, and community occur when one is caring for others and not self-centered. The blessings of good health come about when one helps those who are less fortunate by providing food and tzedakah. The blessing of a fulfilled life comes from study and application of the Torah and by using our G-d given creative abilities to make the world a better place for others. When we seek justice for others then we bring about a more just world.
All of these are choices that we are empowered to select as described by our teacher and lawgiver Moses. That we have free will makes all this possible within the realm of possibility for each person-even for those with physical or emotional challenges. As we recite the Selichot prayers, ushering in our desires for sincere repentance and looking forward to 5786, may our wishes and desires be in line with the will of G-d who gives us strength and courage to face the challenges ahead. May G-d empower us with the wisdom to make good choices in the coming year so that we do not fall into a life of emptiness and futility but instead have a life of love and blessings.
- Describe the blessings promised in Ke Tavo. How can they be grouped?
- Why are the warnings in Ke Tavo so much more expansive than those previously enumerated in Bechukotai?
- Describe the ceremony of blessing and warning and why it was necessary to do this publicly?
- Why is this considered to be a fitting end to Moses’ 2nd discourse?”
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his smicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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