פרשת כי תבוא

The theme of פרשת כי תבוא is the importance of gratitude and not taking things for granted. The Parsha begins with the joy one should feel when he's been blessed with being able to bring his first fruits to the Beit Hamikdash.We are told of the ceremony on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival where it was made clear that Eretz Yisrael was a gift given primarily in the merit of our forefathers. If we take the land for granted and forsake the Torah, we could lose possession of the land and be sent away.The final part of the Parsha, the תוכחה, the rebuke, is much more graphic in its describing what awaits the Jewish people in the Exile. The Alshich breaks down the more than fifty verses of the תוכחה. He claims that there are hints to the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman exile within the verses. There are even allusions to what life will be like after the destruction of the Second Temple.In total, there are 98 curses if we don't accept the Torah with gratitude and joy. Hopefully, by now we have learned our lesson and we will finally serve Hashem as intended. Shabbat Shalom