๐ Introduction
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื teaches us about the 98 curses of Parashat Ki Tavo and their true meaning. This lesson reveals how the darkest moment becomes a source of light and how divine recognition emerges from the most difficult trial.
Source: Teaching by ืืืจืฉื ืืืื on Parashat Ki Tavo - Moses' farewell speech from 1st Shevat to 7th Adar
๐ The Context: Moses' Farewell Speech
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื immerses us in the context of Parashat Ki Tavo: we are in the long farewell speech of ืืฉื ืจืื ื (Moses Rabbeinu) which constitutes the entire book of Devarim.
The 37 Days of the Final Speech
From 1st Shevat to 7th Adar: 37 days during which Moses prepares the people to enter the Promised Land without him. This speech culminates with the 98 curses of Ki Tavo.
- โ ๏ธ The 98 curses: Prophetic warnings that unfortunately came true
- ๐๏ธ Destruction of the First Temple: The descriptions recall Megillat Eichah
- ๐๏ธ Destruction of the Second Temple: Continuation of realized prophecies
- ๐ข Historical persecutions: Inquisition, Holocaust - Moses' words resonate throughout history
- ๐ฏ Purpose of warnings: "So they may see and fear" - to distance us from evil
These curses are not cruel punishments, but warnings from a loving father who wants to preserve his children from danger.
๐ The Controversy: Lower or Raise the Voice?
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื addresses a fascinating halakhic question: how should the ืืื (cantor) read the curses?
Two Opposing Traditions
Common tradition: Lower the voice to avoid frightening
Position of ืืืจืฉื ืืืื: Raise the voice to hear well and prepare
- Necessary courage: "One must stand upright with pride and courage to hear these reproofs"
- Salutary warning: Like a doctor prescribing bitter but necessary medicine
- Knowledge of danger: To know what must be avoided
- Spiritual preparation: "To know where we are heading"
"Traditions of foolishness" consist of fleeing or closing one's ears. On the contrary, one must listen courageously to better prepare.
โ๏ธ The Apparent Nadir: "And No One Buys"
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื explores the harshest verse: "ืืืฉืืื ื' ืืฆืจืื ืืื ืืืช... ืืืชืืืจืชื ืฉื ืืืืืืื ืืขืืืื ืืืฉืคืืืช ืืืื ืงืื ื"
The Slave Market Scene
God will bring Israel back to Egypt on ships, they will be sold as slaves, but no one will buy them. Supreme humiliation or... divine revelation?
- ๐ข The forced return: Return to the place of original slavery despite the divine promise
- ๐ฐ Commercial failure: "Not even a shekel" - total rejection even as slaves
- ๐ข Total humiliation: Being considered worthless, even as a slave
- ๐ค The crucial question: How can this moment be considered positive?
๐ The Revelation: "You Are Sons of a King"
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื reveals the extraordinary reversal: the moment of greatest abasement becomes awareness of our greatness.
The Dialogue with the Egyptian Buyer
The merchant: "Where does this merchandise come from?"
The answer: "These are Jews from the Land of Israel"
The reaction: "Jews? They are sons of a king!"
- ๐ Recognition by the enemy: The Egyptians themselves recognize Jewish nobility
- ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ "Sons of the Holy One, blessed be He": People who have tasted spiritual freedom
- ๐ People of Torah: 40 years in the desert, Torah at Sinai, Solomon's greatness
- ๐ Spiritual value: "They don't know how to clean floors, they are spiritual people"
- ๐ The awakening: The Jew on the platform suddenly understands his true value
"If no one wants to pay me even a shekel as a slave, it's because I am a son of a king!" - Moment of awareness of our divine mission.
โจ The Beginning of Redemption
This recognition of our divine value marks the beginning of ืืืืื (Redemption).
- ๐ฏ Mission in the world: We are a chosen people to illuminate the world
- ๐ Current radiance: "Today we do it in a big way"
- ๐ค World's reaction: "That's why they don't like us much"
- โ
Positive sign: "If they don't like us, it means we are good"
- ๐ Key to redemption: Understanding our value = beginning of healing
True redemption begins when we understand that our rejection by the world confirms our exceptional divine mission.
๐ต When to Raise the Voice: The Halakhic Debate
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื explains why some say one must raise the voice precisely at the moment that seems darkest.
Two Opinions on the Moment of Elevation
Opinion 1: Lower the voice during curses, raise after "These are the words of the covenant"
Opinion 2: Raise the voice precisely on "and no one buys" because it's the moment of redemption
- ๐ Paradoxical reversal: The worst moment becomes the best
- ๐ญ Positive reading: The same words, but with transformed understanding
- ๐ "You are not slaves": Revelation of our true nature
- ๐
Dawn of consciousness: This recognition is already redemption
"Why does no one buy? Because you are not slaves and maidservants!" - The recognition of this truth is the beginning of redemption.
๐ The Spiritual Medicine of Torah
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื compares the Torah's curses to necessary medicine.
- ๐จโโ๏ธ The divine physician: "You don't feel well, you must take the medicine"
- ๐ Bitter taste: "It's bitter, it's disgusting" but necessary
- ๐ฏ For our good: The warnings are for our benefit
- ๐ช Courage required: One must be courageous enough to listen and apply
โค๏ธ "And God Has Not Given You a Heart to Know"
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื explores a fascinating verse at the end of the parasha that reveals a moment of extraordinary recognition.
The Mysterious Verse
"ืืืงืจื ืืฉื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืจ ืืืื... ืืื ื ืชื ื' ืืื ืื ืืืขืช ืืขืื ืืื ืืจืืืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืืืข ืขื ืืืื ืืื"
"And God has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear until this day"
- ๐๏ธ Crucial timing: 40 years after the exodus from Egypt, Moses' last day
- ๐ค The question: What changed that day?
- ๐ก Emotional intelligence: "ืื ืืืขืช" = combination of heart and intellect
- โ๏ธ Necessary balance: Neither pure intelligence without emotion, nor pure emotion without reflection
- ๐ Winning combination: Heart + intellect = perfect emotional intelligence
๐ The Day of Torah Giving
ืืืจืฉื ืืืื reveals what happened that day through the Midrash reported by Rashi.
Moses' Last Day (7th Adar)
On that day, Moses finishes writing the Sefer Torah and gives it to the Levites. But something extraordinary is about to happen...
- ๐ Writing completed: Moses finishes the Sefer Torah
- ๐ฏ Initial giving: "ืืืชื ื ืื ืืืื ืื ืื ื ืืื" - given to the Levites
- โ Problem in the verse: "And to all the elders of Israel" - apparent contradiction
- ๐ Textual clue: Something happened between the two parts of the verse
โ The People's Historical Demonstration
The Midrash reveals the extraordinary event that took place that day.
The People's Demand
All Israel comes to Moses: "We too stood at Sinai! We too received the Torah! Why do you give it only to the Levites?"
- โ๏ธ Demand for equality: "We are not goats!"
- ๐๏ธ Reminder of Sinai: "We too were at Mount Sinai"
- ๐ Refusal of aristocracy: "You give the Torah to your own tribe?"
- ๐ฎ Concern for the future: "Tomorrow they will tell us: the Torah is not for you!"
- ๐ข Collective protest: All the tribes make a demonstration
"We too want the Torah! We want the Torah!" - This passionate demand reveals the people's deep attachment.
๐ Moses' Joy: Recognition of Attachment
Moses' reaction reveals the greatness of his leadership and his deep understanding of the people.
Moses' Reaction
Instead of being offended: "ืืฉืื ืืฉื ืขื ืืืืจ ืืื" - "And Moses rejoiced over this matter"
- ๐ Unexpected joy: Moses is happy about their protest
- ๐ฏ Deep understanding: "What are you fighting for? For the Torah!"
- ๐ Revealed attachment: "You want to hold onto the Torah"
- ๐
Moment of recognition: "Today you have become a people"
- โค๏ธ Proof of love: 40 years of uncertainty resolved in an instant
"Today God has given you a heart to know" - Moses understands that their fight for Torah proves their true attachment.
๐ The Miracle of the 12 Torah Scrolls
The miraculous conclusion of the story reveals divine love for His people.
The Final Miracle
On the same day, Moses performs a miracle: he writes 12 Sefarim (Torah scrolls), one for each tribe, plus the original kept near the Ark.
- โจ Divine miracle: 12 perfect copies in a single day
- ๐๏ธ The original preserved: Hidden under the Temple by King Solomon
- ๐ Unbroken chain: Transmission from generation to generation
- ๐ Our current Sefarim: Direct copies of Moses' original
- ๐ Messianic promise: Everything will be revealed with the coming of Mashiach
"God wanted to make Israel meritorious, therefore He multiplied the Torah for them" - The more we attach ourselves to Torah, the more it reveals itself to us.
๐ฏ To Remember: Essential teachings of ืืืจืฉื ืืืื
- Courage facing trials: Listen to warnings to better avoid them
- Divine reversal: The darkest moments can reveal our greatness
- Recognition of our value: We are "sons of a king" with a divine mission
- Attachment to Torah: Our passion for study reveals our true nature
- Visionary leadership: Moses rejoices seeing the people's love for Torah
- Emotional intelligence: Combination of heart and intellect
1. Courage Facing Difficulties
When you go through a trial, remember: "Warnings are for our good". Listen courageously to the lessons rather than fleeing them.
2. Recognition of Your Value
In moments of rejection or humiliation, remember: "If no one wants to buy me as a slave, it's because I am a son of a king". Your divine value remains intact.
3. Attachment to Torah
Show your passion for study like the people who demonstrated for Torah. Claim your spiritual heritage with pride.
4. Emotional Intelligence
Develop your "ืื ืืืขืช" - heart to know. Balance your decisions between emotion and reason, as taught by ืืืจืฉื ืืืื.
5. Positive Leadership
Like Moses who rejoiced at the protest, learn to see the good intentions behind criticism and celebrate others' passion.
6. Divine Mission
Remind yourself daily that you have a mission of illumination in the world. Your rejection by some confirms you're on the right path.
Transcription of ืืืจืฉื ืืืื's teaching on Parashat Ki Tavo
The essence: The darkest moments reveal our divine greatness and our mission in the world.