This book of Devarim keeps on referring to how special the land of Israel is. Its produce “A land of grain wheat and barley, wine, figs, pomegranates, olive oil and honey,” “A land flowing with milk and honey.” In Egypt and in Babylon produce came from irrigation. In Israel rains were the only source of fresh water and so the…
Parsha Ki Tavo
First Fruits
In the declaration on bringing the first fruits to be dedicated at the Tabernacle or Temple, one says “My father was a wandering Aramean.” It is true that the Midrash interprets it differently, to suggest that Laban the Aramean tried to kill our father Jacob.” This is clearly homiletics, not the literal translation. In the Pesah Hagadah, this quote is…
Warnings
There’s a very unusual ceremony in this week’s part of the Torah. When the tribes cross over the river Jordan and settle on the West Bank they were commanded to gather on the two Mountains Gerizim and Eyval which can be found near the city now called Nablus. To this day, they are considered holy by the Samaritans. Their Temple…