Friends of Itamar

Leah’s Blog Parashat Ki Tavo 2026

Leah’s Blog- Parshat Ki Tavo- August 2026.

I have a deep tie to this view- two grey mountains set against an apricot sky. A rich sense of place- I fell in love with it at first site. From this angle exactly as our window has it – facing where HaShem told Avraham, “lech lecha”, meaning “go to yourself”. The mountains call to me and I answer “I am coming! This is a place of primacy, the original first stop. Parshat Ki Tavo has me wondering how Shechem is not mentioned… odd I find it. Avraham built an altar here, perhaps I passed by it on my explorations. It was here that Hashem promised him the Land of Israel. When Yaakov came back home with his family, he positioned this altar in the first place they set up camp in the land, right here, nestled between the two mountains. Deep rooted family events happened here, scenes of Dina watching the daughters of the valley dance, alas her first date with the prince of that place changed it forever as evil met her there. Then the reckoning came- “for the sake of our little sister”. Later, another calamity: Yosef tripped in the field there looking for his brothers. Our Avot and Immahot navigated through regional blessings and curses right here. Mount Gerizzim and Mount Eval surrounded these stories- a constant backdrop to the riveting personal stories the Torah describes. The epicenter of the Land of Israel is right here. In our parsha we stand as a nation after years of slavery in Egypt and another forty wandering through the desert. Undivided on these two mountains, the ones I am looking at right now, Mount Gerizim and Mount Eval you seem to be standing right next to me! It is the place that lofty principles are turned into practical actions- but first- they are proclaimed! Now what was promised to Avraham is an entire nation returned to the original point! After this onetime event you can begin to walk the Land. Lech lachem! From foundational to national. It’s about responsibility that must be taken if we want to keep the promise. In this parsha we also remember when we bring the first fruits, in the land of Israel nature takes the place of miracles- “You shall gather in your grain, wine and oil.” When we read Parshat Ki Tavo at this time as our nation has returned against the odds, looking between the mountains where we started as individuals and came around after all these years – a national miracle our lives indeed give testimony that we are a miracle. Mount Gerizzim and Mount Eval are about the harmony and undivided belief and obedience we share in our love and thankfulness. Come and share the view from here – you will come to yourself…

Shabbat Shalom dearest friends of Itamar- blessings! Xoxoxoxo Lea