Parsha Ki Tavo
September 13, 2025/20 Elul 5786
This week I would like to discuss ethical dilemmas.
Parshas Ki Savo, when the Jewish people get to the land of Israel, we once again hear of the blessings and curses that await us depending on whether we choose the path of righteousness or wickedness. In fact, the part dealing with the admonition (known as the tochachah, of which this is the second of two in the Torah) is emotionally difficult and many communities have the custom of reading it quickly or in a lower voice.
When I think of these two paths, I wonder what kind of choices are these? “Accursed is the man who will make a graven image (26:15)” or “Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field (28:3)”. Bad or good. Simple, right? The Torah goes even further –
describing punishments of madness, boils, and more. How could anyone choose the path of wickedness? Truth be told, despite knowing the consequences of our actions, we do not always heed the warnings. But what about when the world is less black and white but grayer?
I was reminded this week of ethical dilemmas as I worked with my students analyzing an article. In the article a university psychologist was asked by her administration to act on a project that would negatively impact on a specific population of the student body. In the end she disengaged from the project rather than compromise her identity. She followed her heart and made her decision, leading to questionable results. As a professor though, I always remind the students they cannot answer a question solely with their opinions and ideas, they need to conduct research and cite their sources. In this parsha too, choosing the right path can require hard work in decision making.
The Torah recognizes that things aren’t always so clear and gives us the solution. We can’t just blindly follow our heart, as this parsha states (29:3) “but Hashem did not give you a heart to know”. The Midrash Rabbah noted in one interpretation that this answers the question “how can we be assured our hearts will always stay true?” In fact, the Jewish people should have asked at Mount Sinai that G-d always keep our hearts true! The reason we did not do so is because “Hashem did not give us the heart to know” what to do in this situation. We must do the hard work and study the Torah for the answers. If we want to know which direction to go in an ethical dilemma, let the Torah be our guide, ask advice, and pray to G-d for divine guidance.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, let us pray to G-d that He place us on the path of righteousness. Thus, the blessings of this parsha will be fulfilled. Apropos to Rosh Hashanah this week’s parsha promises that if we follow the path of good that “Hashem shall place us as a head and not as a tail” (28:13).
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Joshua Shorr
Parshas Ki Savo, when the Jewish people get to the land of Israel, we once again hear of the blessings and curses that await us depending on whether we choose the path of righteousness or wickedness. In fact, the part dealing with the admonition (known as the tochachah, of which this is the second of two in the Torah) is emotionally difficult and many communities have the custom of reading it quickly or in a lower voice.
When I think of these two paths, I wonder what kind of choices are these? “Accursed is the man who will make a graven image (26:15)” or “Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field (28:3)”. Bad or good. Simple, right? The Torah goes even further –
describing punishments of madness, boils, and more. How could anyone choose the path of wickedness? Truth be told, despite knowing the consequences of our actions, we do not always heed the warnings. But what about when the world is less black and white but grayer?
I was reminded this week of ethical dilemmas as I worked with my students analyzing an article. In the article a university psychologist was asked by her administration to act on a project that would negatively impact on a specific population of the student body. In the end she disengaged from the project rather than compromise her identity. She followed her heart and made her decision, leading to questionable results. As a professor though, I always remind the students they cannot answer a question solely with their opinions and ideas, they need to conduct research and cite their sources. In this parsha too, choosing the right path can require hard work in decision making.
The Torah recognizes that things aren’t always so clear and gives us the solution. We can’t just blindly follow our heart, as this parsha states (29:3) “but Hashem did not give you a heart to know”. The Midrash Rabbah noted in one interpretation that this answers the question “how can we be assured our hearts will always stay true?” In fact, the Jewish people should have asked at Mount Sinai that G-d always keep our hearts true! The reason we did not do so is because “Hashem did not give us the heart to know” what to do in this situation. We must do the hard work and study the Torah for the answers. If we want to know which direction to go in an ethical dilemma, let the Torah be our guide, ask advice, and pray to G-d for divine guidance.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, let us pray to G-d that He place us on the path of righteousness. Thus, the blessings of this parsha will be fulfilled. Apropos to Rosh Hashanah this week’s parsha promises that if we follow the path of good that “Hashem shall place us as a head and not as a tail” (28:13).
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Joshua Shorr
