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TABLE TALK
1. If you hadn't read Rabbi Yochanan's answer to his disciples, how would you have
interpreted his blessing to them? What is implied in his answer to them? How does his
answer relate to the curses in this parasha? Think about how you behave in public and how
you behave in private. Think particularly about the differences in your behavior. What
influences your public behavior? What other things impact your private behavior? What part
does fear play in your public and private lives?
2. Deuteronomy 27:18 curses one who "misdirects a blind person on his way". Leviticus 19:14
commands us not to "place a stumbling block before the blind". Both of these can be
understood as how God wants us to behave towards people whose sight is impaired. Can
you think of what this may teach us about generally treating other people? (Hint: Have you
ever said "I see" to indicate that you understand something? How do you want to be treated
when you "don't see"?)
3. Deuteronomy 28: 1- 68 (pgs. 1522 -1528) contains the blessings that the people will enjoy
if they obey God's commandments and the terrible curses that God promises to send if the
people do not obey the commandments. This chapter is called the Tochacha or the
"Warning." (Did you know that in some traditional congregations, the "Tochacha" is read in
hushed tones, without the usual chanting?) God is telling the people that they have choices
about how they live and act. They can choose to follow the mitzvot and be rewarded or
reject them and be punished. How does this compare to the rules in your house? What kind
of warnings do you get? What kind of rewards are you promised? Is it always necessary to
have warnings and rewards? Are there other things that influence your actions? What are
they?
4. The ritual of bringing the first fruits to God in thanksgiving as described in Deuteronomy
26:3 - 10 included specific "fixed" words that were to be recited. What is the difference
between fixed words (such as the typical response to the question "How are you?") and
words that are spontaneous? When you pray, do you always use the "fixed words" in the
siddur? When do you offer prayers in your own words? Is there a difference in your prayers
when the words are your own or the words are from the prayer book? Describe the best
aspects of fixed and spontaneous prayer.
5. The words in the first fruits ritual acknowledged all that God did for the people, from taking
them out of Egypt to finally bringing them into the land of milk and honey. The words were
not to be said in a group, but recited by each individual. According to Maimonides, each
person was to say these words to remind him or herself that although they were now able
to offer to God the first fruits they had grown, it was due to God that they had been able to
grow them in the first place. By referring to the past in this ritual, the each person was also
acknowledging that God performs miracles (including all the amazing things that occurred
during the 40 years in the desert, including bringing the people into the land). What do you
think "the land of milk and honey" means? What does this description of the land have to
do with miracles? Where is the land of milk and honey today? In what ways is it a place of
miracles? What first fruits and blessings do you offer in this place?
6. The "fixed words" referred to in question 4 above, include the text "My father was a fugitive
Aramean..." (from Deuteronomy 26:5 - 8) found in the Passover Haggadah read each year
at the seder. Look up Deuteronomy 26:5-8 in Plaut's Torah Commentary (pp.1508-1509)
and compare these original verses to the version in your family's Haggadah. (You'll find it
after the section on the Four Sons in your Haggadah.) Are the versions the same? What
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are the differences? Discuss how and why you think the changes occurred.
DID YOU KNOW... that the word amen, which was recited by the tribes of Israel after hearing
each of the blessings and curses, means "so be it" ? Saying amen implies that you agree with
what has already been said. By saying amen after the blessing and curses, the people were also
indicating that they understood what the consequences of their actions would be if they obeyed
or disobeyed God's commandments. Some say that the word amen comes from the word emet
or "truth," while others say that it stems from the word emunah or "faith."
9/06/1998
Topics: Harvest
Reference Materials:
Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:129:8
The Torah: A Modern Commentary, pp. 1,5081,537; Revised Edition, pp. 1,3471,367;
The Torah: A Women's Commentary, pp. 1,1911,216
Source URL (retrieved on 04/17/2016 - 9:30pm): http://www.reformjudaism.org/ki-tavo-tweens
http://www.reformjudaism.org/print/13836
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