Rabbi's Sermons

Shabbat shalom!

This week's Torah portion, Parashat Ki Tavo, demonstrates the power of words. It contains in its text, a confession, blessings, and curses, as well as the expression of "AMEN", which all together, are perceived, not as vague statements, but carry a value in daily practice. The word itself, is an act. A word is too important, and therefore, should be treated with great seriousness, intent, and full responsibility. For the people of Israel, there was a custom, which illustrates the power of a word, and was represented in a long list of curses, which are included in this Parasha. During its reading in the Torah, it is commonly read very quietly, almost in a whisper, so as not to embarrass the reader, not to worry those who listen to it, and perhaps, in many cases, because of the famous fear of the AYIN HARA, the bad luck.

In this portion we find the declaration of the tithe, which was the tenth of the harvest, to be set aside. The Torah established three types of tithes: The first tithe was reserved annually, for the Levites in the temple (except in the year of “shmita”, which occurs once, in a seven-year cycle). There was also the BEALIM, or owners’ tithe, which was an amount, determined by the owner of the field, which was donated to the priests. Lastly, a third tithe was made, to the poor. Every third and sixth year in the seven-year cycle, a tenth of the harvest was to be set aside and left at the city gate for the poor, the weak, and the needy of the community. This act was accompanied by the recitation of a personal confession before God. This week's Parasha indicates the text of this statement, in the following three verses from the Book of Deuteronomy 26: “¹² When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, thou shall give it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates and be filled, ¹³ then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed Your commandments, neither have I forgotten them. ¹⁴ I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away thereof for any unclean use, nor given thereof for the dead; but I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God and have done according to all that You have commanded me”.

From this text, we may ask: What is the meaning of this statement? In the words of the commentator Abarbanel: "What need does a person have to mention publicly (and perhaps even with conceit or boast) about what he has done?". It seems that the very act of speaking the words, is just as important as keeping the command to tithe. Apparently, when we declare our actions publicly, we are committing ourselves to them and strengthening our intention.

Another example to this concept, is during Kiddushin in a wedding. Placing the ring on the finger of the groom or the bride, is not enough, by itself. The act of placing the ring must be accompanied by explicit words, by a public declaration of choice of the spouse: "Harei at mekudeshet betavaat zot kedat Moshe veIsrael - Behold, you are sanctified through this ring, according to the law of Moses and of Israel" or as the bride traditionally declares: "Ani le dodi vedodi li - I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me". One more classic example, is lighting the Shabbat or holidays candles. The action itself is accompanied by a blessing, and there are those who add a few additional words.

Many beleive that even if we know that our loved ones love us, it is always nice – and sometimes even necessary, to hear them say that they love us. We understand speech as the expression of two things: a commitment with words, to do what we have committed ourselves to do, and on the other hand, a declaration that what we do, we do with full awareness and KAVANA – which in Hebrew, means – intention.

We all understand the power that exists in our words, from the moment we say them until the manifestation of the function they represent: One word can have the power to heal the soul, other words have the power to encourage, others the power to transmit love, or hate. If we would not believe in the power of a word, we would not try to convince each other, nor would we believe in a blessing for the sick, perhaps we would never even recite a prayer. Whoever stops believing in the value of words, or who stops respecting them, loses an enormous value of the human race: being blessed with the richness of our spoken communication. Those who do not understand how destructive words can be, will not be able to enjoy the constructive power they have.

Let us propose to be highly aware and sure of what we are going to say. Let us be very cautious, when expressing ourselves, because the most beautiful thing, like a flower, or the most atrocious and painful thing, like a thorn, can come out of our mouth. When people use positive words, tend to be calm, pleasant, self-confident, happy, content with what they do and with what they have, they do not bother others; they are people who inspire confidence, who invite us to get closer to one another, because we can be sure we will receive a dignified and friendly treatment. On the other hand, when people speak aggressively, do not inspire confidence, they are violent and irritable, "explode", and by doing so, do not show confidence or respect.

In this month of Elul, and facing a new year that is very soon beginning, I invite you to ask yourself, how do you, and your loved ones, want to live from this new year on? In an environment of peace, joy and happiness, or in one of aggressiveness, violence and dissatisfaction? Let us learn from the words of this Parasha and analyze and strain what we say. In ten days, the important celebration of Rosh Hashanah will take place, and many of us, will soon begin to wish and send greetings of – "Shana Tova" to our loved ones. Let us seize this important occasion to express the best of our hearts to all those around us. I think that only saying – "Shana Tova", is not enough. Let us use our own words, thoughtfully, and use them to express our best wishes, and above all, let us not wait for our loved ones to guess our wishes and our love for them. Let us constantly express our feelings! And we will begin a new year – with the power of our words, to obtain blessings of abundance and happiness.

Shabat Shalom!

Rabbi David Laor

September 12^th 2025