Saturday, August 28, 2021

CHUCK KOLB

 Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter) - The Blessing in Being a Blessing !!! 


Previously posted ...
Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Ki Tetze (When You Go Out) - Holiness and the Laws of God !!!
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2021/08/chuck-kolb_21.html
JESUS SPEAKS (part 9 FINAL) 8/21/21
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2021/08/sermon-jesus-speaks-part-9-final.html
Hard to Believe - Full Documentary
https://conpats.blogspot.com/2021/08/chuck-kolb_25.html
קשה להאמין עם כתוביות בעברית (Hard To Believe with Hebrew Subtitles)
vid> https://youtu.be/yM9HfVZ6AI4 (56:23)

Cat 3 Ida Strengthening To Hit Gulf Coast - New Orleans 8/29
vid> https://weather.com/safety/hurricane/news/2021-08-27-tropical-storm-hurricane-ida-forecast-gulf
cone> https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
The war against Truth has been raging ever since
evil was expulsed from the realm of Heaven. 
God instructed Pharaoh, "Let my people go."
God instructs us, "Let my people know."
Shema Y'israel - Maranatha !
Na'aseh V'nishma
✡ ✡ ✡
כבוד שם יהוה Baruch Hashem Adonai  
#ShabbatShalom - Welcome to Ki Tavo (When You Enter), this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion).
This Torah portion will be read in synagogues around the world during the Shabbat (Saturday) morning service.
Please read along with us and discover how precious you are to the Lord.
We know you will be blessed.

Last week, in Parasha Ki Tetze, God gave to the Israelites 74 of the 613 commandments found in the Torah — far more than any other Torah portion. These laws mostly seem to be concerned with protecting the weaker members of society.  They include laws concerning the beautiful captive, paying workers in a timely fashion, and leaving a portion of the harvest in the field for the widow, the fatherless, and the stranger. This week, in Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter), God instructs Israel to bring the first-ripened fruits (bikkurim) to the central sanctuary once the Israelites have finally entered the Land He promised to them.


You can view this Parasha on our website complete with embedded links ... 
Parasha Ki Tavo: The Blessing in Being a Blessing
https://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/parasha-ki-tavo-blessing-blessing/

Constantine and the Foundations of Anti-Semitism
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/constantine-foundations-of-anti-semitism/

Ah No Salvation and the 7 Noahide Laws
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/can-salvation-come-through-the-seven-noahide-laws/

Are You a Jew? The Answer Might Surprise You
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/are-you-a-jew-fname-the-answer-might-surprise-you/

Revelation and Na'aseh V'nishma
https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/11880
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/do-first-understand-later/
We will do and we will listen to all that God has declared. Exodus 24:7

When to Celebrate Yeshua HaMashiach's birthday ...
The Joy of Tabernacles when Yeshua was Born
http://conpats.blogspot.com/2019/10/chuck-kolb-10142019.html
How Yeshua was born on the Feast of Tabernacles by Rabbi Yitzchak
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/how-yeshua-was-born-on-the-feast-of-tabernacles/

English to Hebrew to English lookup
https://context.reverso.net/translation/hebrew-english/
https://www.doitinhebrew.com/Translate/default.aspx
https://yiddishkeit101.wordpress.com/category/hebrew-word-of-the-day
The Best Jewish Words You Need To Know: A Yiddish and Hebrew Glossary
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/the-best-jewish-words-you-need-to-know/
https://hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/Hebrew_Glossary_-_Sh/hebrew_glossary_-_sh.html
A Living Library of Jewish Texts in Hebrew and English translation
https://www.sefaria.org/   https://dictionary.co.il/   https://www.hebrew-verbs.co.il/

Torah Teasers Parshat Ki Tavo by Moshe Erlbaum
https://www.aish.com/tp/i/teasers/Torah-Teasers-Parshat-Ki-Tavo.html

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Ralph Messer ...
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash - Joy of God’s Teaching and Instruction

What Does It Mean to Choose Life? Every decision you make can be made in a way that you are “choosing life.” The Torah is God’s constitution; it is His teaching and instruction; it is eternal and it is life. His Spirit is pure Light, abundant with untouchable, supreme, sovereign power.
God is the Source of all life.

כִּי-תָבוֹא  Ki Tavo means  “when you enter”—referring to entering the Land ,,,

Moses pronounces the blessings that the Children of Israel would be rewarded with in keeping the commandments of the Torah, then gives a warning of the harsh punishments that would come upon them if they disobeyed God’s commandments.  These punishments include illness, famine, war, poverty, and exile.  The section which lists these punishments incurred for disobedience are known as tokhachah, meaning “rebuke.” He reminds them that they could gain so much more by serving Him with joy rather than heaviness of heart. When you are joyful in serving God simply because you love Him, your children and the people around you will see it and be impacted by it.  You can inspire them with your joy (simchah). Even hard things in life can be done with joy, and in fact, when they are, it lightens the load and makes things easier.
https://stbm.org/ki-tavo/

2021 STBM Fall Events - 9/11 to 9/25
vid> https://youtu.be/PrT3zvhVrdM (2:54)

Arrive a half hour+ early for starting lessons ...

Online> Saturday Shabbat (9:00am ET / 12:30pm ET) Services and Midrash 
Online> Monday Nights with STBM 8:30pm ET  / Thursday Afternoon> 3:00 pm ET
Learn more about special event streaming when you call our team! 866-867-2488
https://stbm.org/stbm-live-main/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/RalphMesser/videos
https://stbm.org/study-home/  https://stbm.org/rrm-subscriptions/ 

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Todah Rabah - Dr. Gary Hedrick ...
Reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel
https://www.cjfm.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/
Charles Halff - What It Costs a Jew to Become a Christian

https://store.cjfm.org/product/146/what-it-costs-a-jew-to-become-a-christian

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Yitzchak ...

The Mark of the Beast is Coming Quickly Upon Us!
https://www.calledoutbelievers.org/news/the-mark-of-the-beast-is-coming-quickly-upon-us/
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssemblyofCalledOutBelievers/videos
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/sermon-topic/torah-parashot/
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/free-downloads/
https://www.facebook.com/CalledOutBelievers/ at 10am PT
The Importance and Beauty of Tzitzit
https://player.vimeo.com/video/152885286
http://www.calledoutbelievers.org/tzitzit/
The Hidden Beauty of the Holy Name of God - YHVH
vid> https://youtu.be/dbb45zmkli4 (20:59)


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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Richman ...

Weekly Torah Study: with Rav Gedalia Meyer
Positivity & the Holy Temple with Rabbi Abba Horovitz
Temple Talk Radio with Yitzchak Reuven
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTempleInstitute/videos
https://www.facebook.com/The-Temple-Institute-22738684968/
https://www.instagram.com/thetempleinstitute/ - https://twitter.com/TempleInstitute
https://www.templeinstitute.org/ w Weekly Newsletter - 34 years
https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Jachter ...
Kol Torah Academy of Bergen County 

Parashah Ki Tavoi - Elul 19, 5781 - August 27, 2021
https://www.koltorah.org/articles/?category=Ki+Tavo
https://www.koltorah.org/by-parashah https://www.koltorah.org/about-us
https://www.koltorah.org/rav-jachters-halachah-files
TABC Summer Edition (43 page pdf)
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a676111d74cffa4d903806e/t/60d95c17b495d93fdc71f550/1624857623992/Kol+Torah+Summer+Edition.pdf
Yeshiva - https://www.tabc.org/

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Parshat Ki Tavo

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2504/jewish/Ki-Tavo-in-a-Nutshell.htm
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?tDate=8/28/2021 
https://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Calendar.htm

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz ...  

https://israel365.com/  https://www.israel365news.com/
https://www.israel365.com/about/  https://theisraelbible.com/

The Portion of Ki Tavo
https://theisraelbible.com/?s=ki+tavo
https://theisraelbible.com/2015/07/14/book-deuteronomy/
https://theisraelbible.com/weekly-torah-portion/ 

Netanyahu: American servicemen gave their lives to secure our common civilization
by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz

Israelis joined in as America mourned the loss of valiant servicemen killed by Islamist terrorists in Afghanistan.
This was, perhaps, best expressed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
https://www.israel365news.com/196478/netanyahu-american-servicemen-gave-their-lives-to-secure-our-common-civilization/

Complications of serious Covid cases worse than side effects of vaccine, Israeli study finds
by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich

This study focused on adverse events that may develop in the short- to medium-term after vaccination and those with clinical significance.
https://www.israel365news.com/196460/symptoms-of-serious-covid-cases-worse-than-side-effects-of-vaccine-israeli-study-finds/

‘Blood Libel’ from Washington: Fauci blames Jews for spreading diseases [Watch]
by David Sidman
vid> https://youtu.be/S9xhw1LoYLk (4:35)

“When it gets below that number, you start to see outbreaks, like we saw some time ago
in the New York City area with Hasidic Jewish people who were not getting vaccinated.”
https://www.israel365news.com/196430/blood-libel-from-washington-fauci-blames-jews-for-spreading-diseases-watch/

Pope claims Torah is obsolete: Rabbis take him to task
by David Sidman

The pope, who was reflecting on what St. Paul claimed about the Torah in the New Testament, said: “The law (Torah) however does not give life.
https://www.israel365news.com/196417/pope-claims-torah-is-obsolete-rabbis-take-him-to-task/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-rabbis-ask-pope-clarify-remarks-jewish-law-2021-08-25/

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the United States
Stand with 100,000+ people who stand with Israel.

https://www.israel365.com/the-israel-covenant/

♥♥ ♥♥ ♥♥

President Donald J. Trump

https://www.45office.com/
https://gab.com/realdonaldtrump
https://t.me/real_DonaldJTrump
http://Instagram.com/realDonaldTrump 
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/desk 
https://rumble.com/c/DonaldTrump
https://gettr.com/user/realtrump_

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Good News From Israel - Achievements and Heartwarming Stories
In the 22nd Aug 21 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/2021/08/israels-good-news-newsletter-to-22nd.html
http://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/ 

Mishpacha Jewish Family Weekly - https://mishpacha.com/ 

Misery Loves Company In Washington
by Binyamin Rose

Can Israel still rely on the US?
https://mishpacha.com/misery-loves-company-in-washington/

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Todah Rabah - beloved Ted Belman writing from Jerusalem, Israel for 19+ years ... 
THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION 


Who is Israel to trust?
by Lev Tsitrin - AM THINKER
The article does not provide the answer, but the history of the relationship that it paints is highly instructive.
https://www.israpundit.org/who-is-israel-to-trust/
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/08/who_is_israel_to_trust_.html

The west’s delusional fifth column 
Biden is merely the boil that has now burst on a diseased body politic
by Melanie Phillips
The sickening if utterly predictable atrocities at Kabul airport have brought yet
more calls for US President Joe Biden to be removed from office in disgrace.
https://www.israpundit.org/the-wests-delusional-fifth-column/
https://melaniephillips.substack.com/p/the-wests-delusional-fifth-column

Mass Slaughter Predicted Within The Coming Days - Jack Posobiec 8/26/21
vid> https://rumble.com/vlqitk-mass-slaughter-predicted-within-the-coming-days..html (4:29)
redpillusapatriotsredpillusapatriots - https://rumble.com/user/redpillusapatriots
https://www.israpundit.org/mass-slaughter-predicted-within-the-coming-days/

Biotech Analyst DESTROYS Big Pharma in BOMBSHELL EXCLUSIVE!
WOW! Former Pfizer Employee: "Checkmate. Game Over. We WIN" 8/25/21
vid> https://rumble.com/vlod4c-wow-former-pfizer-employee-checkmate.-game-over.-we-win.html (32:19)
https://rumble.com/c/StewPeters   www.StewPeters.tv 
Karen Kingston is a former Pfizer employee, a pharmaceutical marketing expert and biotech analyst.
Kingston joins Stew Peters, and brings the receipts! Kingston reveals how the FDA “approval” is sure to
be the “checkmate” move to end the shots that have caused unprecedented injury and death, worldwide.
https://www.israpundit.org/biotech-analyst-destroys-big-pharma-in-bombshell-exclusive/
 
A Short History of Slavery - Candace Owens
vid> https://youtu.be/NO_wmixXBdE (5:40) 8/23/21
https://www.youtube.com/c/prageruniversity/videos
https://www.israpundit.org/a-short-history-of-slavery/

>> The Jordan Option, plain and simple
https://www.israpundit.org/the-jordan-option-plain-and-simple/
>> The Jordanian Option is the only game in town
https://www.israpundit.org/my-jordan-option-is-the-only-game-in-town/

Kindly donate to support the work I do
by Ted Belman

https://www.israpundit.org/kindly-donate-to-support-the-work-i-do/
https://www.israpundit.org/my-half-yearly-appeal-for-donations/

♥♥ ♥♥ ♥♥

Quest For The Lost Tribes - Full Simcha Jacobovici Documentary

vid> https://www.bitchute.com/video/jbB2ELq4xPw/ (1:33:29) 8/18/19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Jacobovici
12 Tribes of Israel: The Shevatim
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3798842/jewish/12-Tribes-of-Israel-The-Shevatim.htm
https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/blog/who-are-tribes-judah

Shabbat Menu of First Fruits
This week's Parsha Ki Tavo we discuss the first fruits brought by the Children of Israel to the Kohen in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.  As we approach the New Year, with its promise of sweetness, we highlight some of our favorite first fruits of the fall season with our delicious Shabbat menu filled with apples and pomegranates and figs.
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/fruit-filled-shabbat-menu/

Sunflower Pomegranate Honey Cake for Rosh Hashanah
Enjoy and have a Lovely Shabbat!
vid> https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/GGWAmCn6-FSMnt4zj.html (1:27) JewLish

https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/sunflower-pomegranate-honey-cake-for-rosh-hashanah/

28 Rosh Hashanah Sides To Fill Your Table with Simanim guide
Looking for something to go with all that Rosh Hashanah brisket?

https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/rosh-hashanah-sides/

Olam Haba Kashrut ...
Braised Brisket with Dates and Red Wine
vid> https://youtu.be/5E2N90vw_zQ (6:35) JG

https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/braised-brisket-with-dates-and-red-wine/

Healthy Rosh Hashanah Menus that Your Family will Love!
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/a-healthy-rosh-hashanah-menu/

Now is the perfect time to start Rosh Hashanah preparations
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/gluten-free-desserts-for-rosh-hashanah/

My Favorite Rosh Hashanah Menu
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/my-favorite-rosh-hashanah-menu/

7-Minute Prep Simanim Recipes For Your Rosh Hashanah Menu
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/7-minute-prep-rosh-hashanah-recipes/

Am I right about this one?
Everything Spice Chicken Schnitzel/Nuggets Sheet Pan Dinner
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/everything-spice-chicken-schnitzel-nuggets-sheet-pan-dinner/

LIVE Series: FEED YOUR SOUL
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/feed-your-soul/

Jamie's Quick & Easy Shabbat Menu App
all your Shabbat meals in one convenient place
https://www.prepear.com/jamiegeller/cookbooks/quick-and-easy-shabbat-menus/

Simchat Torah Menus
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/simchat-torah/simchat-torah-menus/
Vegan Recipes
https://www.pinterest.com/JamieGeller/vegan-recipes/
https://jamiegeller.com/holidays/ 

This is Where You Can Find Me Most of the Time
JewLish - One People - Many Flavors
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpomjPnHcZ/
https://www.instagram.com/jamiegeller/
https://www.facebook.com/jamiegeller
https://www.facebook.com/jewlishbyjamie/
 
Joy of Aliyah 

http://jamiegeller.com/tag/joy-of-aliyah/
https://jamiegeller.com/tag/joyofisrael/
Jamie Geller Welcome's You
vid> https://youtu.be/XO-owES713c (0:35)
Lots of 💕 Jamie - Until next week Shabbat Shalom from Israel ! 

The answer is, it's made with love from Israel ! 
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-jewish-food-memories/
My Love Affair With Jerusalem
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/my-love-affair-with-jerusalem/

The Jamie Geller Spice Collection: Now Available Worldwide!
Sending you love and my heartfelt wishes for peace, from Israel.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jamie+Geller/page/55E36343-CF6F-4E88-A4D5-D7C1C0274F7F
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jamiegeller 
Adding Israel Wildflower Honey to my Amazon collection
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BN1985Q/

Babies, Books, and a Billion Views: My Decade in Review
https://jamiegeller.com/from-jamie/a-decade-in-review/

Best of the Best w Hubby - Family Heirloom Cholent ...
vid> https://youtu.be/Ae2-lQVFsGw (12:01) 8/11/11 JG classic
https://jamiegeller.com/recipes/family-heirloom-chulent/

Jamie at Aish - Chief Media & Marketing Officer
https://www.aish.com/authors/48868432.html
https://www.aishhatorah.com/
How You Can Make the Future Brighter
vid> https://youtu.be/fclstyB-1rA (2:48) Aish
https://www.youtube.com/c/Aishdotcom/videos

The Influence of the Hebrew Bible on America's Founding Fathers
vid> https://youtu.be/jE6Sqh-kezw (7:15) J-TV
https://www.aish.com/jl/h/h/The-Influence-of-the-Hebrew-Bible-on-Americas-Founding.html
Serpents of Desire: Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. An Introduction
https://www.aish.com/jl/b/eb/ge/48966101.html

Jamie Hanala Geller
https://jamiegeller.com/author/jamie-geller/
Tamar Genger MA, RD
https://jamiegeller.com/author/tgenger/
The High Holiday Recipe Collection - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/om8u2hvu10jwaeo5xuzi/
Beef Bacon 101 - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/jeithgmmua2s7fpzrgzk/
A Passover for Everyone - Aish and Jamie - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/sqyphcgmojgxtcq32ndx/
The Ultimate Challah - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.ac-page.com/pinterest-challah
Comforting Soups - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/vp6jenajjphxppjobhib/
Rosh Hashanah Sides - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/lmhvzqio815zbglkdar8/
Modern Israeli Kebobs - free eBook
https://koshernetwork.acemlnc.com/lt.php?s=a476321cee1a62660d5e43a07fe84c19&i=109A824A1A5341
Modern Israeli Summer - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/myjxowbuybzbzl3de8zb/
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/qlxqz3dqauo76fhgwlfd/
The Perfect Turkey Guide - free eBook
https://app.monstercampaigns.com/c/g4ibbdtyf0mfdt5fudgu/
Join My WayBetter Cooking Class with Jamie Geller
https://get.waybetter.com/jamiegeller/
 
When you have entered [ki tavo] the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance ...  take some of the firstfruits
of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. 
Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His name. 
Deuteronomy 26:1–2



Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter) - The Blessing in Being a Blessing !!! 

To protect the precious handwritten text of the Torah scroll, a yad (Torah pointer) is
used to follow along in the reading.
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Welcome to Ki Tavo (When You Enter),
this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion).
 
This Torah portion will be read in synagogues around the world during the Shabbat (Saturday) morning service.  Please read along with us and discover how precious you are to the Lord.
  
Ki Tavo (When You Enter)
Deuteronomy 26:1–29:9 (8); Isaiah 60:1–22; 1 Peter 2:1–25
 
“When you have entered [ki tavo] the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance ...  take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket.  Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for His name.”  (Deuteronomy 26:1–2)
 

An Israeli girl with a basket of fruit and vegetables.
 
Last week, in Parasha Ki Tetze, God gave to the Israelites 74 of the 613 commandments found in the Torah — far more
than any other Torah portion.
 
These laws mostly seem to be concerned with protecting the weaker members of society.  They include laws concerning the beautiful captive, paying workers in a timely fashion, and leaving a portion of the harvest in the field for the widow, the fatherless, and the stranger.
 
This week, in Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter), God instructs Israel to bring the first-ripened fruits (bikkurim) to the central sanctuary once the Israelites have finally entered the Land He promised to them.
 

Baskets of fruit in an Israeli market.

It must have been a relief for the children of Israel to hear that their prolonged, 40-year journey through the wilderness would finally be coming to an end.  They were about to cross over
into the Promised Land.
 
In fact, the word in Hebrew for a Hebrew, Ivri, comes from the root I-V-R, which means to cross over.  In a spiritual sense, anyone who has crossed over into the Kingdom of God is an Ivri
 
For that reason, perhaps, Paul said that being a Jew is a matter of having a circumcised heart more than circumcised flesh.  He wasn’t by any means negating circumcision; he was emphasizing that to cross over into the Kingdom of God, there must be an inward change.  
 
Those who worship God, worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
 
“But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”  (Romans 2:29)
 
The wilderness experience was so challenging and defining that future rabbinic texts consider any physical or spiritual desert as an enemy to be overcome.  Our challenge is to walk through the times of wilderness in our lives and be transformed so that we can enter the Promised Land.
 

Crossing the Jordan (Bible Primer, 1919)
 
Ki Tavo promises that obedience to God will be rewarded.  These rewards include Divine protection, prosperity, and blessings on families and future generations.
 
Disobedience and rebellion against God, however, result in punishment; the Word of God lists 98 chilling admonitions that take up half of this Parasha.  
 
These include diseases, plagues, poverty, famine, slavery, and defeat by enemies.
 
For this reason, Parasha Ki Tavo has been called “the warning chapter,” and the Torah reader, who traditionally chants the Torah portion according to a sing-song pattern, rushes through the recital of dreaded curses in a hushed, fearful tone.
 
We need not look far to see that the Jewish People have been blessed by the Almighty God as He promised; but they have also done more than their fair share of suffering over the centuries due to the curses of the law that come into play because of sin (Deuteronomy 28:15–68).
 
Teviah, the father in the movie Fiddler on the Roof, expressed this sentiment so humorously after his horse became lame just before the Sabbath: “God, I know that we are Your chosen people, but couldn’t You choose someone else for a change?”
 
There are some who follow Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah), but believe that it is our lot in life to suffer from these curses along with the rest of the world; however, the Word of God tells us differently.
 
As covenant children of God, we are to enjoy His blessings on our lives if we are walking in obedience to His commandments.
 
"But Messiah has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law.  When He was hung on the tree, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing."  (Galatians 3:13)
 

Torah scroll and yad

Blessings Come from Being a Blessing 
One of the first acts of obedience that the Lord asks of His people is to remove the firstfruits of our increase, our tithe, the sacred portion — and to give it to those who serve the Lord,
as well as to the poor.
 
“Then say to the LORD your God: ‘I have removed from My house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all You commanded.’”  (Deuteronomy 26:13)
 
If we are not obeying this command, then we have little Biblical basis on which to expect God’s blessings on our finances.
 
God promises that if we obey Him in giving our tithe, He will rebuke the devourer for our sakes and bless our finances.
 
"'Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,' says the LORD of hosts.”  (Malachi 3:11)  
 

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your
produce."  (Proverbs 3:9)

But the reverse holds true as well:  if we fail to give to God the “hallowed portion” of our income, then we are breaking covenant by “robbing God.”
 
When we fail to tithe, we come under a curse and give the devourer free rein to work havoc and destroy our finances.
 
While Yeshua has removed from us the curse of the law, He has not removed from us the obligation to follow His example by living a holy life.  When we understand that we are walking in sin in some area, we are to repent and return to Him.
 
By giving our tithe — the holy (kadosh) portion of our income — removing it from our possession, we return to God in so many ways and He returns to us.
 
Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.  But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’  Will a mere mortal rob God?  Yet you rob me.  But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’  In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing Me.”  (Malachi 3:7–9)
  

A homeless man in Israel
  
In Judaism, the giving of tzedakah (charity) is considered such an important mitzvah (commandment) that if someone does not fulfill this law, their lineage actually becomes suspect.
 
Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who themselves are in need.  Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshiper.
 
This principle is affirmed also in the Brit Chadashah (New Covenant), which emphasizes that if we don’t give when we see a brother in material need, it is doubtful that the love of God truly dwells within us.
 
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”  (1 John 3:17)
 
Of course, the Lord rewards compassion and generosity.  He promises that when we give to the poor and needy, the widows and orphans, He will pay us back for what we have given.
 
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed.”  (Proverbs 19:17)
 

An elderly Israeli woman begs on the street to help make ends meet.
 
A Treasured Possession
“And the LORD has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands.  He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations He has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as He promised.” 
(Deuteronomy 26:18–19)
 
The Lord promises Israel in this Parasha that if they keep His commandments, they will be "His treasured possession.”  This promise is also found in Exodus:
 
“Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession.  Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation [mamlechet cohanim v’goee kadosh].”  
(Exodus 19:5–6)
 
And although they have experienced many curses over the generations, in the Haftarah (prophetic portion), the prophet Isaiah tells Israel that God in His favor and mercy will one day exalt them even in the midst of much persecution and hatred against them: 
 
“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age.”  
(Isaiah 60:15)
 

Jewish families walking in the countryside of Israel
 
In the Brit Chadashah, all followers of Yeshua are called God’s special people.  Because of our covenant with the Almighty God through the blood of Yeshua, both Jew and Gentile together can know that they are God’s most treasured possession.
 
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9)
 
In Hebrew, the word for special treasure is segulah (סגולה).  The color purple in Hebrew is sagol (סגול), a word that comes from the same root letters.  Why?  Purple is the color of royalty!
 
As the Lord’s segulah, we are clothed in sagol
— the color of royalty.


We are children of the King and He is our Father.  He values and treasures us.  There is no need to search for external or superficial qualifications.  This is simply our identity in the Messiah!
 

Israeli woman prepares to open the Torah scroll.
 
We might look at ourselves and say, I don’t look much like a treasure; I’m too short or too tall, too fat or too thin, not pretty or smart enough to be a treasure.
 
We might check in with our emotions and say, I don’t feel that I qualify to be called a treasure of God; I have so many faults and weaknesses — I need to work on keeping my temper; I’m not yet disciplined enough; I don’t witness enough — whatever we perceive to be our weakness.
 
But as the apostle Paul says, we are to put no confidence in the attributes of our flesh (Philippians 3:3).  Certainly, if anyone could have qualified as a treasure by the certificates on his wall and trophies on his desk, it would have been the apostle Paul, who described himself in this way:
 
“circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;  as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”  (Philippians 3:5–6) 
 
He considered himself without fault in the flesh
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