Parashat Ki Tavo

Reaching out to interfaith families.

Judaism emphasizes deed, not creed.

A word and its opposite may be one and the same.

Through rituals, blessings, and warnings the Children of Israel strengthen their connections to history, land, and God.

Among the curses for those who break the covenant is the inability to provide for themselves.

Moses instructs the Israelites regarding the first fruit offering; Moses then lists the blessings for keeping the commandments and the punishments for disobeying them.

By viewing the troubles and joys of our lives as part of a continuum we can uncover blessings even in the most challenging curses.

The activities for which people are cursed by God directly are those committed in secret.

The two extended warnings for breaking the covenant reflect the changing relationship between the people of Israel and God.

Our religious and spiritual experiences of serving God should be joyful and uplifting.