Parashat Ki Tavo
28 August 2026
Week of the 21-28 August 2026
Torah portion: Deut. 26:1-29:8 Haftarah: Isa.60:1-22
The Israelites have declared that the Lord is their God and that they will walk in His ways and
observe His laws, commandments and rules with all their heart and soul. In return, God has
affirmed that they are His treasured people who shall observe His commandments and that
they shall be set high above all other nations, a people Holy unto the Lord [Deut. 26:16-19].
They will thus be distinguished from all other nations and a model for them. “But upon you
the Light will shine, and His Presence be seen over you. And nations shall walk by your light,
Kings, by your shining radiance” [Isa.60:2-3].
The people are about to enter the land that was promised to their ancestors. The occasion
is to be marked by a ceremony on Mt. Ebal and is to begin with the erection of large stones
which are to be coated with plaster and upon which the Teaching is to be inscribed most
distinctly [Deut.27: 8]. According to Rashi “most distinctly” spoke of the Teaching being
inscribed in 70 languages [Rashi ad loc]. Other nations can read, therefore, that what
distinguishes the Israelites from other peoples is their relationship with God. What is
demanded of them to maintain that relationship will be spelled out for the other nations.
They are then to erect an altar – of unhewn stones – upon which they are to offer a burnt
offering to the Lord, then sacrifice offerings of well-being and eat them REJOICING before
the Lord.
They will then reaffirm their Covenant, thus declaring that they themselves accept the
Teaching of their own volition. The land is a gift from God and their presence in it will
declare the fulfillment of His promise to their ancestors. But their continued presence in it will
depend on the people staying in relationship with God through the keeping of the Covenant. It
is primary that they conduct themselves according to God’s commandments and joy is to be
the essential character of their service to HaShem. We recall that when God told Moses to tell
the people to bring the Lord gifts for the building of the Mishkan, the qualifying criterion was
“you shall accept gifts from every person whose heart so moves him” [Ex. 25:2].
The nation of Israel is called to demonstrate to the world that they are God’s chosen
treasured people – Am Segulah – by not just faithfully observing the commandments, but by
doing so JOYFULLY. A joy born in humility and gratitude of the fact that they are beloved of
God, and He is the Source of their land, security, protection and abundance.
In Judaism, the central role of joy rests on the Talmudic insight that “God’s Presence
does not make itself felt in a state of sadness or indifference or lightheartedness or
distractedness but rather in the joy that comes from fulfilling a mitzvah” [B.T. Shabbat 30b].
For Reflection and Discussion:
- Do humility and gratitude qualify our accomplishments?
2. Does joy characterize our service to God and others?
3. Do you find joy transformative,
changing the most mundane of tasks into a blessing and privilege?
Bibliography: JPS, Tanakh, B.T., Shabbat 30b, Rashi, ad loc
This week’s Parashah Commentary was prepared by
Gwen-Ellen Dankewich, Bat Kol alum 2008
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