This week’s parshah, Ki Tavo, begins with the mitzvah of Bikurim. Bikurim shares the root word bekhor (firstborn), as it refers to the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits of one’s harvest to Jerusalem, to the Temple, to be given to the Kohanim. But before the first fruits are handed over, the one bringing them recites a confession in which he thanks HaShem for all the good He has given and includes a prayer for HaShem to continue bestowing His graciousness and compassion upon us.
From these verses, we learn the importance of recognizing the good we possess and the great value placed on hakarat hatov (recognizing good). One should always be thankful for the blessings he has received in life and learn to say a simple “thank you.” This not only makes our blessings more valuable, as we acknowledge Another’s beneficence, but it also teaches us to value the deeds of others and adds to the good manifested in the world.
The parshah continues with HaShem’s promise that we are His special nation and that we declare our allegiance to Him. It contains a series of loving and warm messages encouraging us to draw close to HaShem.
The parshah then speaks of what is known as the Tochakhoh (rebuke), the blessings and rebukes from HaShem if we do not keep up our end of the agreement with Him. First, there are many blessings and rewards promised to us. Then, “if not,” the parshah lists many troubles and sufferings that will befall the Jewish People if…
People ask, “Where was God during the Holocaust?” I reply, “Exactly where He said He would be!” These curses and sufferings described are what we witnessed during the Holocaust. The real question should be, “Where were we during the Holocaust?” And for that matter, where were we during the October 7th massacres in 2023 in southern Israel? It is our distance from HaShem that leads to these pogroms and bloodbaths. So, what are we to do?
The solution is to turn towards HaShem, seek His love and reconnect with Him. He promised to keep us as His nation, and if we take a careful and simple look, we can see the miracles of the Jewish nation’s survival. As our Sages teach, “We are compared to a lone sheep among seventy wolves!” Yet, we have survived Holocaust after pogrom, bloodbath after massacre, and we are still standing! You could not ask for greater miracles than that!
So we witness HaShem keeping His side of the agreement. We must try to keep our side by turning to HaShem, especially as we approach Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur – the Days of Awe and Judgment.
May we be written and inscribed in the Book of Life for this coming year. The Book of Life means drawing close to HaShem, for HE IS LIFE ITSELF. Then we will see the beauty of our arrangement with Him and merit good health, financial success, emotional stability and spiritual growth, along with all the blessings He bestows upon us, Amen!
