Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah
September 19, 2024
16 Elul 5784
Parashat Ki Tavo
We Jews are going through a scary time right now. Record-level antisemitism does not seem to be going away. We are still very concerned about our brothers and sisters in Israel. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not so different from what the Israelites must have been feeling as they came to the end of their period of wandering and prepared to enter the Promised Land.
In this week's Torah portion, Ki Tavo, Moshe gave the Israelites some advice that would serve us all well. At the beginning of Chapter 27 of Deuteronomy, Moshe told the Israelites to do four things as they prepared to cross the Jordan river: First, observe God's mitzvot. Second, build pillars of stone, cover them with plaster and inscribe them with God's laws. Third, take those pillars with them into the land of Israel and set them up on Mt. Eval. Lastly, offer a sacrifice to God.
If we are willing to read these four actions with a little creativity, we see that they could potentially help us today as well.
First of all, we -- like our ancestors -- should try to implement God's laws and traditions into our lives. The mitzvot have defined us as a people and have given us God's blueprint for a better life. In addition, they bind us together as a community.
Second, we should give ourselves tangible reminders of God's mitzvot. Whether we wear a Jewish star or a kippah, whether we put a mezuzah on our door or put a sign supporting Israel on our lawn, these physical objects remind us of our commitment to God and the people of Israel.
Third, we can take our Judaism wherever we go. Whether we are at work or school, whether we are at the synagogue or the mall, the way in which we act defines us Jews. We can go anywhere in the world and treat other human beings in a Jewish fashion – even when there are people in the world treat us as we would treat them. Judaism has no borders.
Lastly, we should all take the time to develop a relationship with God. I certainly advocate coming to services and engaging God in a communal setting. However, one can interact with God in bed at night, on a jogging path or behind the closed door of one's office. The important thing is to acknowledge that we are not alone as we make the decisions that shape our lives. And that acknowledgment can give us strength when we are feeling unsure.
We may not be preparing to cross the Jordan and conquer the Land of Israel, but Moshe's words still speak to us as they did to our ancestors. There is a better day coming and there are some things we can do to make us feel better as we wait for it.
Shalom,
RAF.
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