Thinking Torah Blog

In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, we read about the Israelites' anticipated entry into the Promised Land and the instructions they received to set up large stones inscribed with the teachings of the Torah. These pillars, placed at the entrance to their new land, were a powerful symbol. They served as a reminder to all who entered of the moral and ethical principles that guided the people and provided the foundation for a just society. The pillars were not just physical monuments; they were a declaration of values—a kind of ancient Israelite constitution that shaped their identity and communal life.

As we reflect on Ki Tavo, we can draw a parallel to our own lives. In times of uncertainty and chaos, it’s crucial to revisit the values that ground us. Just as the Israelites needed to ensure that their ethical foundation was clear for all to see, we too must stay connected to the values that define us as Americans and as Jews. Our success as American Jews has relied on the pillars of openness, access, and equality—principles that have allowed us to thrive. But maintaining these values requires vigilance. We must fight to uphold them and extend them to others through allyship and action.

This challenge of centering our values echoed in Ki Tavo, has faced our ancestors and continues to be the call of our time. How do you keep your values front and center in your life? How do you remind yourself, especially in difficult times, of what you stand for and what you strive to protect?