Our Parsha this Shabbos is 'Ki Tavo,' - ' and talks of what to do when we enter' into the land that HaShem gives us.'
Last week's Parsha was 'Ki Teiztei,' - 'When you go out,' and here,it is 'When you go in.'So what is the relationship between the two Parshas?This answer to this is sweet and special as only HaShem can make it.
When one goes out from Holiness,one goes away from HaShem,but when one comes into Holiness,we return to HaShem.
Returning to HaShem in the true sense of the word,is to return to how things were in the beginning when HaShem first Created all things at the beginning fresh and new.All seeds and plants and grains and nature was fresh and as a 'first-fruit,' never before touched by human hands.This was a time of purity. Before any Aveirah was done and so,the first-fruits of this time were truly untouched and new.But were they as Holy as they could be?No,as That which isn't tested is not totally Holy and pure from a physical point of view.In order to become Holy and Good,' free choice had to be given and this could only come about by 'going out' -'Ki Teitzei,' in order to be tested with physicality so that one could 'Ki Tavo,' re-enter and come back into a higher level of chosen Holiness.We,as human beings have so many different temptations and HaShem Hopes that we will rise above each one,thus making us refined and Holier.We need these tests to grow toward HaShem and each one is a step level higher toward HaShem,if only we overcome each one.How do we overcome each one,overcoming our personal temptations?By 'Ki Tavo' - by entering into the Holier choice that is presented-the more righteous,moral and right choice that we are given,in order so that we can benefit from the choice we made and return to Shamaim.
When we do choose to 'Ki Tavo' - 'Return and enter back into Holiness into the land of HaShem -physically and spiritually, we will be within 'the first-fruits' - the 'fist sweetness at Creation,which we will be able to offer back to HaShem after we have lifted the physical level of all around us,by the positive choices toward Holiness,that we will have made.The choice is ours always,do we 'Ki Teitzei,' - "Go Out' from Holiness which is HaShem,or do we 'Ki Tavo,' - 'Come in or Enter,' the Holiness of HaShem.Each choice of ours,brings its own result.Torah showed us in the last Parsha,where ,walking out from HaShem leads.Here,Torah shows us,in this Parsha ,how 'Entering back into HaShem and His Way,will lead back to the 'first-fruits' of Creation,where we were so close to HaShem.
When we choose to 'Ki Tavo,' - 'Enter back' into HaShem's way,HaShem will protect us and cover us in His Ark of Holiness.We see this in the word,'Tavo,' for an Ark in Hebrew is 'Teivah.'When we come back into HaShem's 'Teivah,' - ' -Ark,' we will be totally surrounded by HaShem's Holiness in the light of Shamaim,the Ark of Holiness where HaShem's Presence,where everything is fresh and new like the first-fruits,and where HaShem's Presence surrounds all the righteous.
HaShem tells us in the first verse of this Parsha that we are to 'Nachalah Vi' Rishta Ve'YaShavta,' - 'Give as an inheritance to Possess and dwell' in the land.This shows that we must take HaShem's Laws and make it our own and dwell within the Law itself,keeping it and following its very depth and essence ,taking these beautiful Laws as a true gift of inheritance.
The word 'Tavuah,' means 'Grain or produce,' which is related to the word ,'Tavo,' To Come or Enter into,' showing us that by bringing HaShem the very best of ourselves,the very first of our produce and grain,the very best of our own efforts to serve HaShem,will bring us to HaShem as HaShem let's is 'Ki Tavo,' - ' Enter into ,' Shamaim.Shamaim will not be a place far away.It will be,very literally, Heaven on Earth,accomplished by our own actions of giving HaShem the very best of ourselves - our very sweetest and most righteous effort,to show our love for HaShem.This effort,is to be accomplished with love,in following HaShem's words and Commandments.How sweet will be the result,when we can all again feel and smell the sweet fragrance of Gan Eiden as we bring Heaven down to Earth,living forever in the beautiful Shamaim of HaShem.
Wish sweetest love,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh.