Feature Tidbit
for Parshat Ki Tavo

It Comes Together

Towards the beginning of the book of D'varim, Moshe Rabeinu was stressing the Eretz Yisra'el aspect of Jewish Life. In the last three sedras, the over whelming emphasis has been on mitzvot, all kinds of mitzvot, mitzvot that are and are not directly connected to the Land. Even though there were mitzvot that are connected to the Land, the connection was not stressed.

But in Parshat Ki Tavo, Eretz Yisra'el and Mitzvot come together in dramatic ways. The parsha begins with Bikurim. Not the mitzva to bring Bikurim. That we find elsewhere. The "additional" mitzva of Bikurim - the requirement to recite the Bikurim Declaration when bringing Bikurim. And this is where the combination of Eretz Yisra'el and mitzvot is clearly presented. Aside from the fact that the mitzva can only be done in E. Yisra'el, aside from the fruit to be brought having to be only from the Seven Species that describe Eretz Yisra'el, aside from all that, we find that this mitzva of Bikurim is the joyous celebration of living in Eretz Yisra'el. Among the Mitzvot Ha'T'luyot Ba' Aretz, this is the one that requires a declaration. And this declaration brings the point across - Mitzvot are for the Jewish People to  observe; Eretz Yisrael is THE place for the Jewish People and for mitzvot.

The same goes for Vidui Ma'aser. We make a verbal declaration that we have fulfilled all the details of the mitzvot in question. Look down upon us from on high, we ask G-d, and bless Your people AND the Land flowing with milk and  honey, Eretz Yisra'el.

The Tochacha in Ki Tavo (and even more so in B'chukotai) directly relates our success or failure in Life with our adherence to Torah and mitzvot. And our tenure in the Land of Israel is also linked in the same manner.

The way the calendar is organized, we never read Ki Tavo and its harsh words of warning and rebuke, on the Shabbat before Rosh HaShana. But it is always the Shabbat before that one. And it often leads us into S'lichot, as it does this year. We must listen well to the words of Ki Tavo.

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