Ki Savo – Peninim on the Torah

“Because you did not serve Hashem your G-d with joy and gladness of heart.” (28:47)

This pasuk implies that the source of all the punishment is serving Hashem with a lack of joy. The Arizal states that precisely because Klal Yisrael served Hashem in a lackluster manner, without vitality and joy, they would ultimately serve their enemies. Joy is an essential component of avodas Hashem, serving Hashem. Indeed, if we would not have failed to serve Hashem with joy, we would not have been exiled. The Yalkut Me’am Loez explains this idea with a simple, but profound analogy. The king of a certain country had a son that was not controllable, His unrestrained acts of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5753

“Cursed (be he) that confirms not the words of this Torah to do them.” (27:26)

As translated above, this pasuk is ambiguous. How does one “confirm” the words of the Torah? The Ramban offers various interpretations of the word oheh from which we may derive important lessons. First, the Ramban states that the word “yakim” means to “uphold and accept” the validity of the Torah in all generations. Consequently, the curse applies to anyone who denies the relevance of any part of the Torah. Accordingly, it is our obligation to impress upon all Jews the Torah’s relevance as a living source of guidance for modern society. Second, the Ramban cites the Yerushalmi in Sotah 7:4,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5753

“These shall stand to bless the people . . . and these shall stand for the curse . . . and the Leviim shall speak and say . . . ” (27:12,13,14)

Rashi cites the Talmud in Sotah 32a that describes the procedure for giving the blessings and curses. Six tribes ascended to the summit of Har Gerizim, and six tribes ascended to the summit of Har Eival. The Kohanim and Leviim stood below in the middle. The Leviim turned toward Har Gerizim and recited the blessing, while both groups responded with Amen. Afterwards, this same procedure was followed reciting the curses, but this time they faced Har Eival. Horav M. Shternbuch, Shlita, suggests a profound lesson to be derived from this pasuk. The tribe of Levi received no portion in Eretz…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5753

“I have not eaten of it in (during my period of) mourning, neither have I put away while (I was) unclean, nor have I given of it to the dead.” (26:14)

This seems to be a three part statement. Horav M. Swift, z.l., applies this pasuk to three types of Jews whose distorted sense of (Jewish) values preclude their proper observance of Torah and mitzvos. The first type is the Jew whose religious life centers around his period of mourning. His observance of Judaism is manifest through his expression of grief. In modern times, shiva has been diminished by the “enlightened Jew” from seven days to one night. Next, we find the Jew whose mixed sense of values distorts his perspective. He can no longer discern between “kodesh,” holy, and “tamei,”…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Ki Savo, 5753

“And now, behold I have brought the first of the fruit of the land which you have given me, Hashem.” (26:10)

Chazal interpret the word v,guw and now,” as meaning “immediately”. Behold, with obvious joy I immediately come to share my fruits with Hashem. Is there any doubt that he is offering his fruits to Hashem? What chiddush, new idea, is he stating by emphasizing his prior ownership of the fruit? Horav Yosef N. Kornitzer, z.l., explains that clearly everything belongs to Hashem. Indeed, nothing which we give Hashem is ours; it really belongs to Him. Consequently, what portion of our own belongings do we personally possess in mitzvah performance? He offers the following response. We do not have possession of…

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“Because you did not serve Hashem your G-d with joy and gladness of heart.” (28:47)

“Cursed (be he) that confirms not the words of this Torah to do them.” (27:26)

“These shall stand to bless the people . . . and these shall stand for the curse . . . and the Leviim shall speak and say . . . ” (27:12,13,14)

“I have not eaten of it in (during my period of) mourning, neither have I put away while (I was) unclean, nor have I given of it to the dead.” (26:14)

“And now, behold I have brought the first of the fruit of the land which you have given me, Hashem.” (26:10)

YEARS

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