Parashat Ki Tavo

Parashat Ki Tavo

Deut. 26:1-29:9 (29:8 in TaNaCH); Isaiah 60:1-22; Rev. 21:10-27

This week's portion includes: Bringing to the Temple as an offering the first fruits of the Seven Species special to the Land of Israel, Declaration of tithes, the Almighty designating the Jewish people as His treasured people (Deut. 26:16 -19), the command to set up in the Jordan River and then on Mount Ebal large stones which had the Torah written upon them in 70 languages, the command to have a public ratification of the acceptance of the Law from Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal.

Torah then sets forth the blessings for following the Law and the curses for not following it, and concludes with Moshe's final discourse. Verse 28:46 tells us the importance of serving the Almighty with "joy and a good heart." The last verse of the portion instructs us "You shall fulfill the words of this covenant and do them so that you will succeed in all that you do!"

We learn the commandment to emulate the Almighty from the verse: "... and you shall go in His ways" (Deut. 28:9)

What does it mean to emulate the Almighty? We must emulate His attributes -- just as He is compassionate, merciful, and holy, so should we be in our dealings.

This is not the first time these words appear in the Torah. In Deuteronomy 11:3 the Torah tells us, "Go in all His ways." Why then is the source of the commandment to emulate the Almighty drawn from our verse?

The answer comes from looking at the complete verse, "God will raise you up for Himself as a holy nation as He promised to you, when you observe the mitzvot of your God and go in His ways."

Rabbi Ibn Ezra elucidates: "observe" means "in your heart"; "go" refers to "action". The mitzva is not to "act" mercifully”, but rather, to "be" merciful and compassionate when you act. This additional lesson is the reason the mitzva to emulate the Almighty comes from our verse.