Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8.

Deuteronomy 26 begins the fiftieth reading from the Torah with the words, “Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance” (26:1). In Hebrew, the words for “when you enter” are ki tavo. This Torah portion begins with laws regarding first fruits and tithes. It goes on to discuss covenant renewal, after which Moses recites the blessings guaranteed to Israel for covenant obedience and warns of the curses for apostasy.

A few weeks ago we explored the concept of “Great Doubt.” Genpo Roshi says that the “direct path” to ‘enlightenment’ is to doubt everything. As we know, as way seekers and now, truth seekers is that everything arises with it’s polar opposite…….This week’s portion presents 98 curses.

““Certainty” is a term you will hear used over and over again in the Kabbalah Centre. To have certainty is to know that everything we experience is for the greater good, for our ultimate benefit. The gifts we are given in life, we are given to enjoy and share with others. The challenges are to teach us, to make us stronger, and to bring us closer to the Light. Was “good” not there, in both these mountains? With certainty, we can reach a very beautiful conclusion that the greatest blessing of all is the ability to see everything as a blessing.

“The greatest blessing of all is the ability to see everything as a blessing.”

We are only two weeks away from Rosh Hashanah, and it is no coincidence that there is a palpable energy in the universe right now that can help us to see God’s hand in everything. What a beautiful gift we are given in these days. Let’s take advantage of this time by looking at the situations in our life that seem dark – they could be challenges we are currently facing, or situations from our past (our childhood, perhaps) – and see the inspiration of a divine force, a bigger plan. Let’s ask: Where is the Light in this? What am I meant to do? Did I learn from it? Did I, or can I still, grow stronger from it? If it is pain another has inflicted upon us, maybe the question is: How can I draw boundaries to not allow this to happen again? Or, am I doing this to someone else in another way? “(KAREN BERG).