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✡︎ Shalom and Good Shabbos, Friends ✡︎
Parshas Ki Tavo: Blessings Promised, Curses Guaranteed
Parshas Ki Tavo clearly shows a correlation between God centered living and flourishing, and a correlation between self centered humanism and suffering.
In our Torah portion this week, Ki Tavo, Devarim (Deuteronomy) 26:1 - 29:8, Moses promises a heaven on earth as a result of applying Torah’s design for living. The Divine blueprint, given to the Jews at Mt. Sinai, is to be demonstrated in Israel and given to all of humankind. It is a gift promised to deliver prosperity, happiness, and human flourishing on earth.
Moses also offers a horrifying picture of the total collapse of human civilization, curses guaranteed as a result of end stage spiritual bankruptcy resulting from the rejection of this gift.
A Life Sustaining Ethos
The portion opens with a lesson in gratitude to God through the laws of the first fruits, offerings to the Temple as well as to the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. This practice is taken very seriously in the agrarian society of the time as a way of securing God’s blessings and protection.
Moses then conveys instructions to create monuments in strategic locations displaying all the words of Torah. These will serve as constant reminders of the civic and religious standards expected of the Jews. These are required to maintain the special contract with the Almighty to which they previously agreed.
Blessings promised for maintaining this life sustaining ethos are robust fertility, healthy offspring, plentiful crops, peace of mind and soul, territorial security, military readiness, financial success, good reputation and Divine providence.
A Death Culture Alternative
Moses contrasts the blessings of keeping the covenant with the curses of forsaking it. He warns against idolatry, disrespecting parents, real estate fraud, uninformed consent to exploit people for profit, judging against those who lack protection in society, aberrant familial sexual relations, gossiping, and profiting from the execution of the innocent. Moses completes the list with a general cautionary declaration to consider all of Torah in this light.
Curses guaranteed are low fertility rates, sick offspring, unhappy family life, starvation, anxiety and fear, disease, military ineptitude, invasion, terrorism, genocide, drought, disability, exile, business failure, contempt from others, tyranny and enslavement.
The contrast between the blessings and the curses makes a dramatic argument in favor of total acquiescence to God's will with sincere gratitude and reverence. The portion closes with reassurances that spiritual growth and love of God come only after great pain and suffering.
A Promised Redemption
In our Haftorah this week, Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 60:1-22, Isaiah reprises this consequential theme. In Chapter 59, the prophet relates the problem in Israel from which God will redeem us. Isaiah describes corruption, injustice, and disrespect for human life that prevail in a land meant to be a global model for Torah based moral integrity, Divine justice, and respect for life.
In Chapter 59:15, Isaiah remarks that anyone who rejects evil in Israel is considered mentally ill, And truth is lacking, and he who turns away from evil is considered mad, and the Lord saw and was displeased for there is no justice.
In Chapter 60, Isaiah repeats Moses' promise that after great self-imposed suffering Israel will repent and return to its righteous role in the world. This great event in human history starts with the resurrection of the dead and the ingathering of the exiles. Following this amazing occurrence, the Jewish people enjoy blessings that they share with all of humanity. Israel is respected and honored as the light unto the nations.
Isaiah's efforts to save the Jewish people through Torah education and moral encouragement meets with some success during the reign of King Hezekiah, who has the good sense to lead his nation back towards holiness. Ultimately, though, the prophet's efforts end with his martyrdom. He is falsely accused of blasphemy [for telling the truth] and executed by King Manasseh in Judah.
Ki Tavo Lessons
Perhaps Moses means to inspire the people into compliance, perhaps he means to scare them into obedience. Whatever his intentions, our history clearly shows a correlation between God centered living and flourishing, as well as a correlation between self centered humanism and suffering.
Isaiah receives his calling during a cycle of spiritual darkness in Judah. Before he accepts his calling, God warns him that he will be persecuted by the establishment. "Whom shall I send?" Then Isaiah said "Here am I; send me!" Thereupon God said to him, "My children are troublesome and sensitive; if you are ready to be insulted and even beaten by them, you may accept My message; if not, you would better renounce it". https://www.sefaria.org/Vayikra_Rabbah.10.2?lang=bi
Isaiah encounters resistance. He is called crazy. He is motivated by his love for his people. He is dedicated to his service to God. In our humble way, we at the JPLF relate to Isaiah's dilemma. Our message isn't well received.
I am called an anti-semite because I reject the indefensible, self perpetuating genocide of Jewish people killing Jewish children in the womb. I warn against rising Jew hatred that results from Jewish people actively working to allow everyone to legally kill their children in the womb.
Judaism is the original pro-life religion, but our persistent efforts to expand access to abortion homicide and defend concocted exceptions to the prohibition of child sacrifice in Torah has repurposed Judaism into a baby killing cult!
This is compassion divorced from holiness. It is stupidity, idolatry, apostasy and a desecration of God's name. It is a spiritual bankruptcy, the results of which can only be rectified by God's mercy and love for his people, Israel.
Because the cause of our worldly problems is spiritual, so must the solution be spiritual. Political, military and social strategies constructed in human minds will fail us and increase our woes. Every day is a day when we can allow circumstances to humble us so we can reconstitute ourselves as channels of Divine inspiration and action.
Moses gives us the solution long ago, and Isaiah repeats it. Repent and rely on the love and mercy of God to restore peace and prosperity to Israel and to every other nation.
God promises to save us and He will!
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