In the sixth Haftara of comfort, the Haftara for Parshat Ki Tavo, we come across an interesting verse about God compensating Israel (Yishayahu 60:17): “Where once there was copper, I will bring gold and where there was iron, silver. Where once there was wood, I shall...
Sponsored by Rosa and Marc Futterman in memory of Edward Hollander, Yitzchak Yehoshua ben Chana Leah z”l In this week’s Haftara from Yishayahu 60:1-22, the children of Israel are returning from afar and the nations of the world are recognizing God. Israel will have...
Parshat Ki Tavo begins with the word “vehaya,” “When it happens that you come to the land that HaShem, your God, is giving you as territory, and you inherit it and settle it.” Ohr HaChayim explains that we are commanded to be happy as the word “vehaya” denotes...
Parshat Ki Tavo (Dvarim 26:1-11) opens with the Declaration of the Bikurim:When you come to the land that the Lord, your God is giving you as territory and you inherit it and settle it, you shall take of the first of all of the fruits of the soil that you bring from...
In Parshat Ki Tavo, Dvarim 27, Moshe told B’nai Yisrael that immediately after entering the Land of Israel, they would reaffirm their commitment to God and to the Torah. They would assemble at the two mountains, Har Grizim and Har Eval for a new acceptance of...
Sponsored by Esther Dukovny in honor of the yahrzeit of her father, Sigmund Segall Halevi z"l,ז"ל יחיאל הלויThe Land of Israel is referred to as the Land of milk and honey twenty times in the...
Biblically, Maasrot (tithes) are taken from crops according to a three year cycle. Every year, Maaser Rishon, the first tithe is given to the Levi. During the first and second years, Maaser Sheni, the second tithe is taken. Since it has kedusha, sanctity, it...
In Memory of Gail Blumengarten z”l, who truly lived life to the fullest. May her memory be a blessing. This past week, I heard of the passing of Dr. Tsippi Kauffman z”l. Dr. Kauffman was a Senior Lecturer in Jewish Thought at Bar Ilan University....
At the end of Parshat Ki Tavo, Dvarim 29:6-7, Moshe reminds B’nai Yisrael how Sichon, King of Cheshbon and Og, King of Bashan came to wage war on them and how B’nai Yisrael smote them, took their land and gave it to the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half the...
In Honor of Josh, Dov and Moshe Halickman’s 14th Aliya Anniversary!As the High Holidays approach, one may ask if it is better to pray in Hebrew or in a language that we understand.The Talmud, Sotah 32a states which prayers must be in Hebrew and which ones can be...
In Memory of Sylvia LevinIn Parshat Ki Tavo, before his death, Moshe presents B’nai Yisrael with both a blessing and an admonition.Part of the blessing is that B’nai Yisrael will prosper in the Land of Israel (Devarim 28:7-8) “God will set your...
On Rosh HaShana, there is a custom to eat the head of a sheep or the head of a fish after reciting the following blessing: May it be Your will, HaShem, our God and the God of our forefathers, that we be as the head and not the tail.The blessing comes from Parshat Ki...
In Parshat Ki Tavo we learn that a person is required to bring their Bikurim (first fruits) to the Kohen in the Beit HaMikdash and say the following words (Devarim 26:3): “I ascertain today to HaShem your God that I have arrived in the Land that God swore to our...
SPONSORED BY CANTOR ALAN SOKOLOFF AND YITZHAK SOKOLOFF FOR THE YAHRTZEIT OF OUR FATHER HYMAN SOKOLOFF Z”L In Parshat Ki Tavo, Devarim 28:6 the blessing states: “Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go...
In Parshat Ki Tavo we read about the blessing and the admonition. Before the admonition is the blessing that will be bestowed upon us if we fulfill the commandments. In Devarim 28:7 we read part of the blessing: “Yiten Hashem et Oyvecha HaKamim Alecha...
Dedicated in Honor of the Midreshet Devora Class of 2010-2011 In Parshat Ki Tavo (Devarim 26:5-8) we find the words that are recited by the person bringing Bikkurim, the first of all of the fruits of the seven species of Israel. These psukim may be...
Parshat Ki Tavo begins with the words "Vehaya ki tavo el HaAretz...", "It will be when you enter the Land that God gives you as an inheritance and you possess it and dwell in it". This week we felt this pasuk come alive as the Midreshet Devora students...
SPONSORED BY SHARONA, JOSH, DOV, MOSHE AND YEHUDA HALICKMAN IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF THE HALICKMAN TWINS BORN TO AMY AND ISAAC HALICKMAN In Parshat Ki Tavo, Devarim 26:11 we are commanded “And you shall rejoice with all of the good that God has given...
In Parshat Ki Tavo (Dvarim 26:9) we see the concept of the Land of Israel as "eretz zavat chalav u'devash", "a land flowing with milk and honey." We have already seen this concept in a few other places in the Torah. The first place was at the burning bush when God...
IN COMMEMORATION OF REVA MARGOLIN'S 12TH YAHRZEITDevarim 26:16 states: "Hayom hazeh Hashem Elokecha mitzavcha la'asot et hachukim ha'eleh v'et hamishpatim v'shamarta v'asita otam bechol levavcha u'vchol nafshecha", "This very day, Hashem your God commands you to...
Parshat Ki Tavo begins with the words “Vehayah Ki Tavo el Haaretz…”, “When it happens that you come to the Land that HaShem, your God is giving you as territory, and you shall inherit it and settle it”.According to Or HaChayim, the word...