Ki Tavo, Ki Thavo, Ki Tabo, Ki Thabo, or Ki Savo (כִּי-תָבוֹא — Hebrew for “when you enter,” the second and third words, and the first distinctive words, in the parshah) is the 50th weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8. Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in September.

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.

Following the last two Parshios that focused on Justice and the value of individual rights, Moshe directed the nation’s attention to the realities of what it meant to live in Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel).

During the 40 years of the desert, the people of Israel were being prepared to accept the reality of HaShem’s mastery and the responsibility of keeping His mitzvot (commandments). Now, in Parshas Ki Tavo, as they were poised to cross the Yarden and assume their intended place as “… highest of all the nations on earth.” (28:1) Moshe commanded a number of declarations and ceremonies. These ceremonies would underscore the cause and effect relationship that exists between adherence to Torah, the laws of nature, and the divine responsiveness of the land.

Note: On the Shabbat the Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. Here are this week`s aliyot:

1st & 2nd Aliyot: The Parasha begins with the Mitzvot of the first fruits and the completion of the Tithing cycles. Both are accompanied by special declarations of HaShem’s mastery over the land, and man’s responsibility to keep the commandments of HaShem.

In the times of the Jewish Temple (Beit HaMikdash), Jewish landowners were required to separate from their produce three kinds of tithing: terumah, a gift for the Kohanim, maiser rishon, the first tithe which is given to the Levi, and maiser sheni, which the farmer himself would go to Jerusalem and eat. And in the third and sixth years of every seven-year Shmittah cycle, the farmer would replace maiser sheni with maiser anni, the tithe for the poor.

4th & 5th Aliyot: Moshe presents a statement of allegiance between HaShem and His People. We are to keep the Torah and HaShem guarantees us praise, fame and glory as the “highest of all the nations”. (26:19) Upon crossing the Yarden, the Nation will publicly declare its acceptance of HaShem’s covenant by: inscribing the Torah upon twelve stones; erecting them as a monument; and the ceremony of blessings and curses that is to take place between the opposing mountains, Grizim and Ayval.

6th Aliya: Commonly known as the Tochacha the admonitions and punishments. It describes the consequences that will befall the Jewish people if they ignore HaShem’s Torah and his providence. The custom is for the Reader to read this Aliya more quickly and quietly than the rest of the Parasha.

7th Aliya: The Parasha concludes with the beginning of Moshe’s final discourse. He starts by recounting the miraculous nature of the past 40 years and its clear indication of HaShem’s ever present protection, past and future.