Ki Tavo

In this parsha

Moshe describes the mitzvah of the first fruits, brought to the Sanctuary with a declaration recounting Israel's descent to Egypt and its redemption, followed by the confession of the tithes. He commands that the Torah be inscribed on stones upon entering the Land, and that the tribes pronounce blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Eival. The parsha then sets out the great Tochacha — a lengthy warning of the calamities that will follow abandonment of the Torah — and closes by recalling the exodus and covenant.

Themes

• Consecrating the beginning to Hashem
• Returning to the root
• Inner gates of listening
• Daily renewal of creation
• Sweetening rebuke into joy
• Standing at the inner doorway

Must-read teachings

1. 1Returning The First BeginningRegarding the mitzvah of bikkurim (first fruits), and afterward the mitzvah of maaser ani (the tithe for the poor), and afterward the verse "this day Hashem your God commands you" (Devarim 26:16) — Chazal expounded that one who brings bikku…תרמ"ג
2. 2Dedicating Creations First To HashemRegarding the mitzvah of bikkurim (first fruits), and in the Midrash that Moshe Rabbeinu instituted the tefillos in place of bikkurim, as is brought in the Midrash Tanchuma. The Sfas Emes opens with the mitzvah of bikkurim and the Midrash t…תרמ"ט
3. 3Daily Renewal Through BikkurimIn the Midrash Tanchuma it is expounded on the verse "This day Hashem your God commands you" (Devarim 26:16). The piece opens with a Midrash Tanchuma on the verse describing the day Hashem commands Bnei Yisrael, setting up the theme of "thi…תר"ס
4. 4Tefillah Reawakens the RootIn the Midrash Tanchuma, on the pasuk "Come, let us bow down and bend the knee, let us kneel" (Tehillim 95:6): Moshe Rabbeinu foresaw that the Beis HaMikdash was destined to be destroyed and that the bringing of the bikkurim (first fruits) …תרמ"ד
5. 5Elevating The Body UpwardThe juxtaposition of the mitzvah of bikkurim (the first fruits) to the wiping out of Amalek, as it is written, "Amalek was the first of nations, but his end is to perish forever" (Bamidbar 24:20). The Sfas Emes opens by noting that the Tora…תרנ"ד
6. 6Crushing the Self for TorahOn the pasuk "Hasket ushema... hayom hazeh nihyeisa l'am" — "Be attentive and listen... this day you have become a people" (Devarim 27:9). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in which Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael that on this day they have becom…תרנ"א
7. 7Sweetening Judgment Into JoyOn the verse, "I have done according to all that You commanded me; look down from Your holy dwelling" (Devarim 26:14-15). The Sfas Emes opens with the vidui maaser passage, where one declares he has fulfilled all the mitzvos and then asks H…תרנ"ג
8. 8Rising and Falling JoyIn the Midrash Tanchuma it is taught: Moshe Rabbeinu foresaw that the Beis HaMikdash was destined to be destroyed and that the bringing of bikkurim (first fruits) was destined to cease, so he instituted three tefillos — "let us bow down," "…תרס"א