Ki Tavo excerpts

כי תבוא

Shabbat Shalom

(26:16) 'This day H' commanded you to do....'

It seems random. To say this right after we are talking about bringing the first fruits and tithing and feeding the poor. 

Would you tithe if it wasn't commanded, you heretic thinking hedonist?

'This day'?

Rashi  teaches that every day, it should be new to you, as if the commandments were commanded on this day.

I understand that can be hard when you are running out on your vacations, on the cruises...Any way you can find a casino that is legal. Mascots in animal outfits to entertain the children while you are gambling away your next vacation...What happened to the jacket, Mr. Goldfine? Did the bookies take that?...Is it a love for sports, or a love for throwing away the college fund?

(26:17-18) Again, continuing with the theme of 'today'...to be to H' an 'Am segulah,' a chosen people, 'to guard all his commandments.'

The chosen people? You think you are chosen. I never got picked first in the pickup basketball games. I used to have to sit on the side...

What have you been chosen for? To guard the commandments. To not gamble, so that you can purchase a new ark for this shule. So that you can pay for the college education? Chosen to be doctors and lawyers. Not chosen to break up a good home because you are not supporting the building fund.

Chosen 'HaYom'/Today, to practice today. To be a good Jew today. I know Bernie had a good run during the year of Shiva...His memory should be for a blessing (always throw in a good blessing- it makes for better rebuke)...Where have you been recently? I know you are not showing up to Maariv. Why? Because you keep on heading over to the reservation... 

(26:19) Keeping the mitzvot is what elevates you, and what makes you the holy nation to H.'

Point is you have to practice the mitzvot. 

Why is it that every sermon I give, I have to remind you guys to keep the mitzvot?

And now I am telling you to spend money on mitzvot. There is no mitzvah to go to university. Throw away Mat's college fund. It is not like he is going to be a doctor anyways. TODAY. Give your money to the shule today. The new ark, time to purchase it today. We are going to be running a fundraiser...The casino night for children from broken homes...

TODAY, we must promise our shule's future. Make sure you have a rabbi who is fed well...