B”H
From the Desk of
Rabbi Dr. Michael Gottesman...
Parshat Ki Tavo opens with the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits (bikkurim) to the Temple, accompanied by a declaration of gratitude for the miracles that brought the Jewish people to the Land of Israel. Later, the parsha shifts dramatically to the curses that will befall the nation if they abandon God's commandments. These curses are graphic, painful, and deeply unsettling.
One of the most striking verses is:
“Cursed is the one who strikes his fellow in secret.” (Devarim 27:24)
This curse is not about open warfare or public conflict—it’s about hidden violence, the kind that festers in the shadows of society. It’s about betrayal, about the breakdown of trust, and about the erosion of communal safety.
Rashi explains that this refers to someone who harms another without witnesses, evading justice. It’s not just about physical violence—it’s about undermining the rule of law. In today’s context, political violence often occurs in ways that evade accountability: incitement online, radicalization in echo chambers, and attacks that are ideologically motivated but hidden behind rhetoric.
Ramban sees this curse as a warning against betrayal and treachery—violence that breaks the bonds of trust in society. When political discourse becomes so toxic that people see opponents as enemies, it leads to betrayal of democratic values and communal cohesion.
Sforno emphasizes that this curse targets those who act with malice while pretending innocence. This is especially relevant today, when political figures may use coded language or dog whistles to incite violence while maintaining plausible deniability.
In light of recent events, this verse resonates powerfully. The murder of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, while speaking at a university event, is the latest in a disturbing pattern of political violence that has plagued both sides of the American political spectrum. From assassination attempts on President Trump to attacks on Democratic governors and lawmakers, the violence is not just physical—it’s ideological, emotional, and deeply corrosive.
Ki Tavo reminds us that blessings come when we build society on justice, gratitude, and unity, while curses follow when we allow hatred and division to take root. The Torah doesn’t just warn against physical violence—it warns against the rhetoric and mindset that lead to it.
Political violence doesn’t begin with a weapon—it begins with words. With demonization. With the belief that the “other side” is not just wrong, but evil. The Torah teaches us that speech creates reality. Just as the declaration of bikkurim uplifts the soul and sanctifies the land, so too can toxic speech desecrate it.
In today’s climate, leaders must heed the Torah’s call: to speak with responsibility, to disagree without dehumanizing, and to lead without inciting. The curses in Ki Tavo are not inevitable—they are warnings. They are the consequences of a society that forgets its moral compass.
We must remember that every human being is created b’tzelem Elokim—in the image of God. Political opponents are not enemies. They are fellow citizens, fellow creations of the Divine.
Despite the darkness of the curses, Ki Tavo ends with a reaffirmation of the covenant. There is always a path back. The Torah believes in teshuvah—return, in healing, and in the possibility of renewal.
Let us pray that America finds its way back to civil discourse, to mutual respect, and to peace. Let us be the voices that bless, not curse. That build, not destroy.
L’Shana Tova
Rabbi Dr. Michael Gottesman is a native Chicagoan whose first pulpit was McHenry County Jewish Congregation, its only synagogue, making him the only Rabbi in McHenry County. In July of 2008, Rabbi Dr. Gottesman took over the pulpit of Skokie Central Congregation from Rabbi Lawrence Montrose who had been its spiritual leader for 47 years. Rabbi Gottesman has succeeded in transforming Skokie Central from a traditional congregation to a modern orthodox one as well as in relocating the congregation to its new current home. Besides Yorah Yorah Semicha, Rabbi Gottesman has a MA in Jewish Education and a PhD in Health Administration.