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.