58 | AUGUST 26 • 2021 

SPIRIT

Pause and Reflect
I

n the Torah portion this 
week known as Ki Tavo, 
we read one of the more 
famous and well-known 
passages in our tradition. The 
passage opens by telling the 
Israelites that when 
they enter the Land 
of Israel, they should 
perform the First 
Fruits ceremony. 
They are to bring a 
basket with some of 
every first fruit of the 
soil and then bring the 
basket to the kohen 
in charge at that time 
in the place that God 
will designate. Once 
there, the person is to 
recite a formula that 
begins, “My father was 
a fugitive Aramean. He went 
down to Egypt with meager 
numbers and sojourned 
there …” (Deuteronomy 26:1-
10). This passage became a 
central text of the Passover 
Haggadah, a text we recite 
each year at the seder.
Rabbi Ilana Grinblat 
suggests one of the purposes 
of this ritual: After Israelites 
wandered the wilderness for 
40 years, it is as if the Torah is 
asking them to ponder what 
it is that they have learned 
from their experience. What 
does it mean for the Israelites 
standing in the Land of Israel 
to recall that difficult journey 
from slavery in Egypt to 
freedom? For the Israelites, it 
was that God was the ultimate 
source of their liberation.
As we quickly approach 
the coming Yamim Nora’im, 
the Days of Awe, we should 
be asking ourselves the same 
question. What are our first 
fruits? What is it that we have 

learned from our experiences 
of this past year? What would 
we put in our basket? Would 
we put a computer screen 
with a Zoom session going in 
our basket? Would we put in 
a face mask? As we look 
to the coming year of 
5782 what do we want 
our basket of first fruits 
to look like?
One other aspect of 
thinking of this past 
year in terms of the First 
Fruit ceremony is to 
consider the narrative. 
The Israelites focused on 
moving from slavery to 
freedom. What would 
be our narrative that 
we would want to recite 
before the kohen, before 
our community and before 
God this coming year? 
What immediately 
comes to my mind is that I 
believe I have learned more 
deeply the importance of 
connections. Specifically, 
I mean connections with 
my family, with my friends 
and with our community. 
For so many people the 
physical act of connecting 
with others has been one of 
the greatest challenges as we 
have all endured some level of 
isolation during this past year 
as we sheltered in place.
As we go forward into this 
new year, I pray we all take 
some time to contemplate 
our basket of first fruit and 
our narrative to go along 
with it. May we all be blessed 
with a happy and healthy 
New Year. 

Rabbi Robert Gamer is the rabbi at 

Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak 

Park. 

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Robert 
Gamer

Parshat 

Ki Tavo: 

Deuteronomy 

26:1-29:8; 

Isaiah 60:1-

22.

Minimally Invasive LANAP Laser T
reatment 

for Gum Disease

The laser alternative to traditional gum surgery for treating 
gum disease.

Minimally Invasive 
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation T
echnique™
Gives patients a minimally invasive option to treat gum 
recession, eliminates discomfort and improves the smile.

The Crown Lengthening Procedure

Improves a “gummy” smile by removing excess gum tissue 
for a pleasing, natural-looking smile.

Dental Implants

A replacement for a natural tooth root that has the same 
function, permanence, and appearance.

www.drnemeth.com

248.357.3100 | 29829 Telegraph Road, Suite 111 | Southfi
 eld, Michigan 48034

 Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Amar Katranji, DDS, MS

LET US CREATE YOUR 

BEAUTIFUL SMILE

Breakthrough Techniques and Impeccable Care for 

Gum Disease and Recession, Gummy Smile and Missing Teeth

®

Weekly
Headlines 
Delivered
to Your
Inbox.

thejewishnews.com/newsletter

