Parasha Ki Tavo
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — This is the time of the year when we reflect, when we turn inward, review our past year’s successes and disillusionments, with the purpose of looking forward to a better year…in other words, gezunt, hatlacha and parnassa.
The parasha begins with “When you arrive,” and ends with “When you have arrived at this place.” We are to be joyful, to be sameach, not simply because we feel we’ve succeeded, but because it is a commandment to do so.
We know that success requires a great deal from us, including genuine faith and trust in HaShem, an authentic commitment to observing His covenant, family and community, generosity, gratitude, humility, and our consistent, unfettered, effort.
This is what this week’s parasha, teaches. After all, it’s clear that the parasha tells us that the “Promised Land” won’t be ours without this type of mindset and “hishtadlus,” השתדלוס, maximum effort. Every setback, every stumbling block along the way, has a purpose, a benefit for us.
Why did HaShem put us through all of the stresses and strains of 40 years roaming through a wilderness? The parasha tells us, (Deuteronomy 29:5), “…that you may know that I the Eternal am your G-d.” Look at how He sustained us through this journey…including clothing and shoes that did not wear out (29:4). It’s clear that through the lens of our Torah, our success is not ours alone. Our hard work alone is not the magic potion to assure our success. He accompanied us through difficulties of the wilderness, and He accompanies us through times of success.
It’s easy to come to feel arrogant, pride, and overconfidence during times of success. Bringing HaShem into the formula for success, as Ki Tavo teaches, prevents these foolish feelings from building.
Indeed, “Therefore observe faithful to the covenant with G-d, that you may succeed in all that you do” (Deuteronomy 29:8). The Hebrew word for “succeed” (taskilu) also means to comprehend so this verse tells us that by fulfilling G‑d’s commandments, we will comprehend all that we should do.
The Sforno, עובדיה ספורנו , Obadia ben Jacob, (1475-1550) teaches, “In adhering to G-d’s covenant, Israel would achieve its natural and spiritual purpose.”
The “secret of success,” of “happiness,” may well be found and summed up simply in the parasha, (26:11) “Then, you shall rejoice with all the good that the Lord, your God, has granted you and your household you, the Levite, and the stranger who is among you.” We shall…it seems that happiness, success, is a commandment! He tells us to focus on what we have, not on what we don’t have or haven’t accomplished. In fact, authentic joy, hakarat hatov הכרת הטו gratitude, the parasha tells us, is a foundation to our ability to succeed.
Indeed, in the sixth Aliyah of the parasha we are taught, “All these curses will befall you, pursuing you and overtaking you to destroy you because you did not obey the L-rd, your G-d, to observe His commandments and statutes which He commanded you. And they will be as a sign and a wonder, upon you and your offspring, forever, because you did not serve the L-rd, your G-d, with happiness and with gladness of heart, when [you had an] abundance of everything.”
May we be zoche זוכה, be granted the merit in the coming year to live up to our obligations and His covenant, and see the success we all pray for with the coming of Moshiach and be blessed with healthy bodies, minds and souls.
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Dr. Mantell writes a d’var Torah each week for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family worship.