Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8
To Influence and To Be Shaped by Another’s Influence
Yael Splansky
Tolstoy begins Anna Karenina with the following two assertions: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Perhaps this explains why for every one blessing listed in this week's parashah, there are five frightful curses. People who are blessed, are blessed in just a few ways. “Blessed shall be the issue of your womb” (Deuteronomy 28:4). "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl” (Deuteronomy 28:5). “Blessed shall you be in your comings and blessed shall you be in your goings" (Deuteronomy 28:6). But people who suffer, suffer in a myriad of ways. Cursed shall you be with “fever . . . and drought” (Deuteronomy 28:22). Cursed shall you be with copper skies and iron earth and dust for rain (Deuteronomy 28:23–24). Cursed shall you be by terror, with no assurance of survival, no peace (Deuteronomy 28:25–26). On and on go the lists of hardship, heartbreak, and tragedy.
This section of the Torah is referred to as toch’chah, “rebuke.” It is hard to take. It’s uncomfortable to hear these words aloud in the sacred setting of our sanctuaries, certainly not befitting Shabbat, so it became customary to read these verses of curses and calamityb’lachash, “in just a whisper.” In the days when superstitions ran high, it became customary for the president of the congregation, or someone of confidence and stature, to volunteer for the aliyah when these verses were read. God forbid, someone vulnerable to poverty or sickness would put himself at further risk by standing in such close proximity to these terrifying words.
Last Edited by judy@jvillagenetwork.com at 9/4/2012 1:13 PM
No comments:
Post a Comment