Ki Savo / כי תבא

Ki Savo / כי תבא

Why did HaShem divide the people into two groups on two mountains to deliver the brochos and the curses? The lesson is that although one can accomplish in this world even in the worse situations, in the most lowly environment, as we find in the Gemora, this is not the preferable approach. Dovid HaMelech said “I chose to dwell in the house of HaShem rather than in the tents of the wicked”. What was he implying? Although one can acquire Olam HaBah under difficult conditions, I chose to live in the environment more conducive to Torah and mitzvos. So HaShem divided the place of brocha from the place of klala to demonstrate this fact.

The psukim seem to indicate that the command was to write the entire Torah on the stones erected in the Yarden and then again inscribe the Torah on the stones at Gilgal or Har Aival. Only the second time does the Torah mention the inclusion of the Torah translated into the seventy languages. The Chasam Sofer infers from here that all 70 languages were a legitmate translation of the simple understanding of Torah, but only the Targum of Onkelos remained intact and authoritative. He adds that the Torah wished to give greater importance to the Torah itself and therefore required only it to be written twice. Finally, he points out, that perhaps this is the source of the mitzva of reciting each weeks’ Torah portion twice in the Chumash and once in the Targum.

The nations of the world will see that the name of HaShem is upon you and they will fear you. The Ksav Sofer presents a beautiful idea. The name of HaShem is the titles given to describe HaShem – kindness, merciful, etc. The Medrash tells us that the tzaddikim acquire these titles. If so, the promise is that the nations will see your even-handedness and your sincerity. They will realize that they need not fear that you will try to conquer them. Yet they still will have awe and respect for you because you carry the Name of HaShem and you are in His image.

Moshe Rabeinu directed the Bnei Yisroel concerning their obligation upon entering Eretz Yisroel. The first command was concerning the building of a “mizbeach”, an altar, on the mountain called Har Aival. There they should bring “korbonos”, both “olos” and “shlomim”. They should be happy and also there they should engrave the Torah on stones. In this parsha we are told all of the terrible calamities that could befall the Jewish people. Unique among the admonitions of HaShem is the statement relating the troubles to a lack of joy and happiness in the performance of mitzvos. Now we understand, the very first words of Moshe are to bring offerings and "be happy". Moreover, where should you display this joy? On Har Aival, the mountain upon which the curses were directed to be given. Moshe’s words were a plea to the Jewish people to have faith and trust in all situations and never lose the love and joy in the performance HaShem's mitzvos.

"Cursed is the one who hits his fellow Jew in secret". Chazal say this refers to slanderers and informers against another Jew. The following episode was told to the author of Chosen Yehoshua by the Nachlas Dovid from R' Chaim Voloshiner about the Vilna Gaon. On one of the Gaon's trips, he rode in a wagon driven by a Jewish wagon driver. The horse became a bit wild and wandered astray into the field of a gentile, causing some damage to his crops. The man had witnessed the scene from afar and ran with vengeance toward the person sitting in the wagon, the Vilna Gaon. The Gaon was just about to shift the blame onto the wagon driver who was more responsible, but controlled himself and tolerated the blows administered by the Gentile. This he did so as not to be an informer and speak "Lashon Hara" about his fellow Jew. The Gaon said afterward that had he spoken up, all his Torah and mitzvos would not have saved him from the terrible punishments of heaven.

The possuk reads "Arami wanted to destroy my father, and he (my father) went down to Egypt. What is the connection between these events? R" Chaim Shlita explains. Meforshim quote a Medrash that when Yaakov escaped from Lavan, Lavan sent a message to Eisav to kill Yaakov. Eisav was advised by his men not to, for then Eisav would have to be the subject of the exile in Egypt decreed upon the son of Yitzchok. Instead he directed Amalek his grandson to wage war against the Bnei Yisroel, but only after they left Egypt. Now the sequence of the possuk. Lavan really wanted to destroy Yaakov (through Eisav) but they had to go to Egypt and the prevented him.

The first of one's harvest is of great joy to the owner of the field. Why should he have to share this satisfaction with a relative stranger, the Cohen to whom he gives them? The Cohen knows nothing of the sweat and toil this person has invested in these crops. Answers R' Moshe 'z'l. The true owner of the field is Hashem and by giving the fruits to His designated agent, the Cohen, the present occupant of the field demonstrates his acknowledgement of this important fact.

The Ramban in Chumash explains that the "tochecha", the curses of sefer Vayikra, are a reference to the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdosh; the ones here in Devorim refer to the second Bais Hamikdosh. Perhaps one would find a simple clue to this. The first ones were said as a result of the fact that the Jewish people broke the covenant by worshipping the Golden Calf and also committing the other severe sins. This is like the time preceding the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdosh. At the time of the reading of the second set of curses, here in Ki Savo, the people themselves were not engaged in any wrong conduct and probably wondered why all the terrible curses now. This would be like the time preceding the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdosh when the people themselves could not comprehend their own guilt.

Previous Parshos

Tazria Metzora Achrei Mos Kedoshim Emor Behar Bechukosai Bamidbar Shavuos Naso Behalosicha Shilach Korach Chukas-Balak Pinchos Matos-Masei Devorim Voeschonon Ekev Reah Shoftim Ki Seitzei Ki Savo Nitzovim - Vayelech Rosh HaShana Haazinu-Yom Kippur Sukkos V'zos HaBrocha Breishis