In parshas Ki Savo, the Torah enumerates the second set of klalos (curses) that are found in the Chumash.  The first tochacha (rebuke) is found in Bechukosai (Vayikra Ch.26 - the forty-nine curses given Har Sinai), and the second set is found in our parsha.  The pasukim are descriptive, painful, frightening and sobering.  The parsha lists a set of ninety-eight curses, foretold to us by Moshe, just prior to his passing

There is a tradition to read the verses quietly and quickly, and Ki Savo is always read before Rosh Hashana, so that “tichleh shana v’kil’kilose’ha - let the year and its curses end”.  As we usher out 5784, and reflect back on the events that have befallen our nation and Land since last Simchas Torah, we would do well to call out and beseech HKB”H that indeed, “let the year and its curses immediately end!”

Amongst the klalos in our parsha, we read:

בָּנֶיךָ וּבְנֹתֶיךָ נְתֻנִים לְעַם אַחֵר, וְעֵינֶיךָ רֹאוֹת, וְכָלוֹת אֲלֵיהֶם, כָּל-הַיּוֹם; וְאֵין לְאֵל, יָדֶךָ - Your sons and your daughters are given to another nation, and your eyes see and pine for them all the day, and there is no power in your hand (to save or free them) (28:32); וְהָיִיתָ, מְשֻׁגָּע, מִמַּרְאֵה עֵינֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה - and you will go insane from the vision before your eyes that you will see (28:34);

בָּנִ֥ים וּבָנ֖וֹת תּוֹלִ֑יד וְלֹא־יִֽהְי֣וּ לָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י יֵֽלְכ֖וּ בַּשֶּֽׁבִי - you will give birth to sons and daughters, and they will not be with you, for they will go in captivity (v.41); גּ֖וֹי עַ֣ז פָּנִ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יִשָּׂ֤א פָנִים֙ לְזָקֵ֔ן וְנַ֖עַר לֹ֥א יָחֹֽן - (the nation that will come to attack and destroy you will be) a brazen nation, which will not show respect for the elderly, and will not have mercy upon the youth (v.50);

וְהֵצַ֨ר לְךָ֜ בְּכָל־שְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ עַ֣ד רֶ֤דֶת חֹֽמֹתֶ֨יךָ֙ הַגְּבֹהֹ֣ת וְהַבְּצֻר֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֛ה בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּהֵ֖ן בְּכָל־אַרְצֶ֑ךָ וְהֵצַ֤ר לְךָ֙ בְּכָל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּכָ֨ל־אַרְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֛ן ה’ אֱלֹקיךָ לָֽךְ - And they will besiege you in all your cities, until your high and fortified walls in which you trust come down, throughout all your land. And they will besiege you in all your cities throughout all your land, which Hashem, your G-d, has given you (v.52);

And once we are exiled from our land… וּבַגּוֹיִ֤ם הָהֵם֙ לֹ֣א תַרְגִּ֔יעַ וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה מָנ֖וֹחַ לְכַף־רַגְלֶ֑ךָ וְנָתַן֩ ה’ לְךָ֥ שָׁם֙ לֵ֣ב רַגָּ֔ז וְכִלְי֥וֹן עֵינַ֖יִם וְדַֽאֲב֥וֹן נָֽפֶשׁ - And among those nations, you will not be calm, nor will your foot find rest. There, Hashem will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and worry of the soul (v.65); וְהָי֣וּ חַיֶּ֔יךָ תְּלֻאִ֥ים לְךָ֖ מִנֶּ֑גֶד וּפָֽחַדְתָּ֙ לַ֣יְלָה וְיוֹמָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תַֽאֲמִ֖ין בְּחַיֶּֽיךָ - And your life will hang suspended before you. You will be in fear night and day, and you will not believe in your life (v.66).

Drash (deeper level of understanding and explaining the text) is not needed when the peshuto shel mikrah (simple and clear understanding of the verses) is deafeningly loud and oh-so-clear.  Though it is extremely painful and searing to read these pasukim, looking back on 5784, it is also comforting to know that Torah is profound, eternal, all parts of Torah are always true, and all of our experiences are embedded in her holy words.  Furthermore, all parts of Torah are emes li’amito - the absolute, purest, untainted truth, and hence, “Torah hi, v’tzarich ani lil’mod - this is Torah, and so, I must learn it.”

A few months ago, the mother of Bar Kupershtein, held captive by Hamas, made a public appeal asking people to use her son’s tefillin until his return.  Attorney Tzvika Graiver took on the task, receiving Bar's tefillin and setting up a stand in major cities in Israel, encouraging people to pray for the hostages still held in Gaza. Graiver recently extended this initiative to Jewish communities across the U.S., where crowds have lined up to put on the tefillin and pray for the hostages’ safe return.

Graiver shared that his sister-in-law first saw a post written by Bar's mother. “This heroic mother wrote that she was looking for someone to take her son’s beloved tefillin and help others put them on until he returns from Gaza,” he recounted. “I wasn’t sure if I could take on such a heavy responsibility. But I messaged her, saying I love my own tefillin dearly, but I’d be honored to take Bar's tefillin, set up a stand, and encourage others to wear them. I thought it could inspire even more people to put on tefillin.”

Bar’s mother entrusted Graiver with her son’s tefillin. “I set up a stand with a picture of Bar and tell people his story,” Graiver explained.  “Bar is a true Israeli hero. His story is heartbreaking. His father, who volunteered as an ambulance driver, was severely injured in an accident and became disabled. Bar had to help support the family, which is why he was at the Nova festival. He was working as a security guard. When the massacre began, he didn’t flee; instead, he stayed behind to tend to the wounded. There are many testimonies from people he helped. Sadly, while helping others, Bar was wounded and then abducted to Gaza.”

Graiver spoke about the responses from people who have used Bar's tefillin. “I tell each person about Bar, and they feel a deep connection, praying with intensity for his safe return,” he said. “People often ask me if I know him personally or if we’re related. I tell them no, and that his mother gave me his tefillin to help others pray for all the hostages.”

Graiver emphasized the broader purpose behind this initiative: “Bar’s mother wrote a sign for the stand, asking everyone to pray for the return of all the hostages, including Bar Avraham ben Julia. The goal is for people to pray for everyone’s return and to connect Jewish people to the mitzvah of tefillin. I believe that while the Israel Defense Forces are strong, the spiritual strength of tefillin has immense power to bring miracles and, God willing, return the hostages soon.”

More than 1,000 Jews have put on Bar's tefillin. Eventually, they even made their way overseas. “I had to travel over the summer for work and to visit my mother-in-law in Montreal,” Graiver explained. “I called Bar’s mother and asked if I should leave the tefillin behind. She said, ‘No, please take them with you and continue the work abroad.’ And that’s when Chabad communities really stepped in. Everywhere I went, people were eager to use Bar’s tefillin. The fact that they belonged to a hostage encouraged many Jews to put them on.”

The tefillin eventually reached the U.S. “When I arrived in Los Angeles, I spoke with Rabbi Rapoport and gave him the tefillin. All day long, people were coming to wear them,” Graiver recalled. “I think Bar’s tefillin have been through at least 12 different Chabad centers, moving from one place to another every day.”

The tefillin also made their way to the East Coast. “In Florida, they traveled through Miami and Boca, reaching many Chabad emissaries,” Graiver said. “I look at the calendar and can hardly believe that it’s been almost three months of Jews putting on Bar's tefillin and praying for his return. I believe this will help bring him and all the hostages back safe and sound.”

Graiver spoke of Bar’s mother with admiration. “She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met. Her faith is rock solid, and it gives her the strength and confidence that Bar will return soon. I keep her updated, sending her videos and pictures of people wearing Bar’s tefillin. Some of these videos show people praying with tears in their eyes.”

One of the most touching moments happened on the promenade in Bat Yam, where Graiver lives. “I think it was on the very first day I took Bar’s tefillin out. A young man came by, looked at the stand, and seemed hesitant. I asked if he wanted to put on tefillin, and he asked me about the stand after noticing Bar’s picture,” Graiver recalled.  “I told him Bar’s story, and he agreed to put them on. He wore them for half an hour, praying not from a prayer book but from his heart, speaking directly to God. It turned out he was a survivor from Nova. Tefillin wasn’t part of his life, but in that moment, through Bar, he felt a deep connection. It was incredibly moving” (https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hysccpepr). 

In our parsha, the Torah tells us that the reason the klalos will befall us is: תַּחַת, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-עָבַדְתָּ אֶת-ה’ אֱלֹקיךָ, בְּשִׂמְחָה, וּבְטוּב לֵבָב--מֵרֹב, כֹּל because you did not serve Hashem your G-d with gladness and goodness of the heart, (when you were blessed with) an abundance of all (28:47).

We pray and hope that Hashem will turn to His nation, His Land, and His children with an abundance of overflowing Divine Mercy as we enter the judgement of the new year.  We trust that He will see the simcha with which so many of His children have taken new mitzvos, new limudim, new kabalos and improvements upon themselves.  We have faith that the year and its curses will end, so that “tachel shana u’birkoseha, the new year and its blessings will begin.”  

שְׁמַע-ה קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי - Hear my voice Hashem when I call out, be gracious to me and answer me (Tehilim 27:7, the chapter of l’David Hashem Ori v’Yishi); קַוֵּה, אֶל-ה’ חֲזַק, וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ; וְקַוֵּה, אֶל-ה - hope to G-d, strengthen and fortify your heart, and hope to G-d (Tehilim 27:14).

בברכת בשורות טובות ושבת שלום