Ki Tavo

It was the summer of 1973 and I had never been to a live concert. I made the one-hour shelp to Los Angeles to see John Denver (z’l), who was performing at the Universal Amphitheatre. It was a concert that I will never forget – for the powerful music and the amazing video presentation that backed the stage. 

Unfortunately John Denver died in a plane crash in 1997. However, recently I have been introduced to Jim Curry, who looks and sounds very much like John Denver. Through his performances he has brought John Denver’s music back to life, and although he travels around the world performing, I have an opportunity to hear and see him often since he lives near me.

During one of Jim Curry’s performances, he mentioned that near Aspen, Colorado there is a John Denver sanctuary with beautiful nature and peaceful surroundings. The Song Garden there features many of John’s lyrics etched into native river boulders placed in a perfect circle to represent the circle of life as a score of music. Those boulders assure the visitor that the music’s message will be remembered for generations to come.

In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo,  Moses and the elders of Israel charge the people, saying: “As soon as you have crossed the Jordan into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones. Coat them with plaster and inscribe upon them all the words of this Teaching.” The Children of Israel are on the brink of entering the Promised Land, and throughout their journey they have been trained for living a new life in this “land flowing with milk and honey.” Stones, not parchment. Permanent, not temporary. Engraving on stone meant that they could be displayed as a constant reminder of what is expected of this newly developing community.

Our collective response to needing memory is to build something. We are instructed in our parasha to build a monument so that we remember the teachings of Torah. We are not remembering the hardships of the past, but rather we are looking forward to how we will live according to the laws of God.

In modern times, wherever we look, we are reminded of important events through the establishment of monuments. Most recently, on the anniversary of 9/11, I visited a nearby neighborhood where a family had erected a memorial display in their front yard. Hundreds of adults and children visited, paying their respects to those who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks on our country. It brought the day back to life for those of us who participated in silence, seeing the 2,996 American flags in the lawn, reading the lists of names, and viewing the photos of the dead.

In Israel there are memorials for the various battles, and throughout Europe there are countless memorials for those who were brutally murdered at the hands of the Nazis.

When we bury our loved ones, we erect a monument, a matzevah. We inscribe their name and perhaps words that remind us of the qualities we want to remember. On my mother’s grave is written the phrase, “Eshet Chayil,” a woman of valor. On my father’s grave is written “Ish Tzadik v’Chacham,” a righteous and wise man.” Reading those words brings them back to my mind’s eye for the time I am sitting with them at the cemetery.

As we approach the Yamim Nora’im¸ the High Holy Days, we think about our own Torahs, the stories of our lives. What is to be written on our monument on Rosh Hashanah that will be sealed on Yom Kippur? “B’rosh Hashanah yikatevun, uv’yom tzom kippur yechatemun.” We can affirm our ability to influence what is written and sealed through our prayer, repentance, and through acts of righteousness. Carrying the monuments inscribed as we enter the Promised Land of life is a prescription for increasing the length and quality of our days.

Tonight we will participate in the service of S’lichot. Central to that service is the recitation of the 13 attributes of God. “Adonai [1], Adonai [2], God [3], merciful [4], and gracious [5], long-suffering [6], abundant in goodness [7] and truth [8], keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation [9], forgiving iniquity [10] and transgression [11] and sin [12], who cleanses [13].” As we do the work of the season, stepping up our efforts of teshuvah (repentance), we recall the words of Lamentations: Hashiveinu adonai eilecha v’nashuva; chadesh yameinu k’kedem. “Take us back, Adonai, to Yourself, and let us return. Renew our days as of old.” May our return to all that is Godly allow us to be chiseled into stones, as a blessing for all time.