Event Date:
Saturday, August 28, 2021 - 8:30am
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Event Location:
Online via Zoom
Event Description:
Good shabbos to all!
Parashat Ki Tavo: Blessings, curses and choices
Can you believe that in a little more than one week we’ll find ourselves standing once again (via Zoom, of course) before HaShem, asking for another year to try to fully appreciate our lives, the lives of our loved ones and community, and the challenges facing our beloved blue globe? And that many of us will spend this Saturday night reciting the penitential prayers known as s’lichot?
Our parasha knows this, and makes it very clear that we have much work to do to keep on being deserving of this life and home we’ve been given. And it acknowledges that we have chosen to be HaShem’s people so that HaShem can continue choosing us! (see 26: 17-18).
Our parasha makes it very clear that these choices we make — to be HaShem’s people — are choices we can and must make every day. As one commentator observes, “…the force of the covenant must not be allowed to abate with routine.”
Beginner’s mind, anyone?
Thankfully, our readings end with some of the most beautifully sublime blessings we have (28: 3-6) — and we get to stop just before those absolutely horrendous curses that seem to never end (28: 15-68). Can we read these as a warning about climate change, Covid, refugees…and taking good care of ourselves and each other?
Our readings, all from Dvarim/Deuteronomy:
1) 26: 12-15
2) 26: 16-19
3) 27: 1-3
4) 27: 4-8
5) 27: 6-10
6) 27: 11 - 28:3 (yes — it really is 18 verses long — you’ll see why!)
7) 28: 4-6
As always, we will go Live From Everywhere! at 8:30 for shmooze ’n snack. At 9 we’ll say our Torah bracha and turn to the question of the week before delving into the parasha itself.
Here’s our Zoom link:
And in case anyone wants to get your Very Own Luah (with all the weekly readings), here’s the link:
See you there!
Rabbi Bob
