40 | SEPTEMBER 19 • 2019 THEJEWISHNEWS.COM

T

his week’
s Torah por-
tion underscores the 
complexity in the 
relationship between God and 
Israel, specifically the notion of 
chosen-ness. 
The heart of it is the juxtapo-
sition of Divine blessings 
and curses, which could 
be termed promises and 
threats. The blessings/
promises, which boil 
down essentially to a 
life of contentment in 
the Land of Israel, are 
followed by the tochecha, 
a protracted admon-
ishment by Moses of 
the people of Israel that 
threatens to withhold 
these blessings if the 
people transgress. 
As such, this pro-
tracted recitation of blessings 
and curses weaves together the 
two layers of God’
s covenant 
with the chosen people: a 
covenant based on a Divine 
promise, described in the Book 
of Genesis and one based on an 
array of obligations or mitzvot, 
described beginning in the 
Book of Exodus. 
In the covenant with the 
patriarchs, God promises 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob a 
multiple of descendants “as 
numerous as the stars in the 
heavens” and possession of the 
Land of Israel (“the promised 
land”) in perpetuity. This dual 
promise was given uncon-
ditionally in recognition of 
Abraham’
s infinite loyalty as an 
entitlement to his descendants, 
the chosen people. 
By the time we get to the 
Book of Exodus, entitlement 
based on an unconditional 
promise has already proven to 
be a less than adequate guaran-
tee that Abraham’
s descendants 
will be worthy of reaping the 
eternal reward. On the con-

trary, the children of Israel 
demonstrate their unworthiness 
and lack of faith repeatedly. 
This necessitated a second 
dimension be added to the 
promissory covenant with 
Abraham, an “obligatory cove-
nant,” based on a series 
of commandments given 
by God at Mount Sinai. 
It is this conditional rela-
tionship Moses explains 
multiple times in the 
Book of Deuteronomy. 
The most well-known 
iteration is the second 
paragraph of the Shema, 
which lays out this con-
ditional relationship suc-
cinctly: rain, crops and 
a life of happiness and 
contentment if you fulfill 
the commandments; 
drought, hunger and a life of 
desolation if you do not. 
 In short, entitlement to the 
benefits of chosenness becomes 
tied to the fulfillment of mitz-
vot; failure to do so results in 
God withdrawing the rewards, 
regardless of the promise to 
Abraham.
 Thus, the complexity of 
God’
s relationship with Israel: 
The people are chosen uncon-
ditionally but required con-
tinuously to prove themselves 
worthy of chosen-ness. 
 Beyond the daunting nature 
of rebuke lies the encouraging 
fact that whether any of this 
comes to fruition depends 
entirely on the actions, the 
deliberate, chosen actions of the 
people of Israel.The latter is 
never consigned to be passive 
recipients of a Divine promise 
but tasked to be active par-
ticipants in determining their 
destiny. 

Dr. Howard N. Lupovitch is director of 
WSU’
s Cohn-Haddow Center for 
Judaic Studies.

Parshat 

KiTavo: 

Deuteronomy 

26:1-29:8; 

Isaiah

60:1-22.

Howard 
Lupovitch

Spirit
torah portion

Being Chosen Is
A Challenge

So much fun you’ll forget 
you’re earning service hours.

Volunteer opportunities for b’nai mitzvah 
students and teen leaders. 
 

Because We Care is a program of 

Jewish Family Service that offers fun and 

fulfilling volunteer opportunities for b’
nai 

mitzvah students. They can join us for one or 

more of our Monthly Mitzvot.

October 20 
Sukkot Family Festival 

 
The Shul

November 10 
Fall Fix Up
 
Different community sites 
 

December 8 
Hanukkah Helpers

 
Jewish Family Service

January 19 
The Great Challah Bake
 
Temple Israel

February 2 
Chicken Soup for the Soul
 
of Detroit
 
Adat Shalom Synagogue

March 8 
Soothing Sunday
 
Jewish Family Service

NEW THIS YEAR! We are offering high school 

juniors and seniors a fellowiship opportunity. 

Participants in the Jewish Values in Action Teen 

Leadership program will help plan this year’
s Because 

Care programs and gain leadership skills.

 Stipend will be provided.

For more information, to register, or apply for the 
fellowship, visit jfsdetroit.org/becausewecare or 

contact Erin Lederman at 248.880.3787 

or elederman@jfsdetroit.org.

