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Parashat Ki Tavo - פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תָבוֹא
Ki Tavo (“When You Come”) opens by describing the ceremony of the first fruit offering (bikkurim) and the declaration made upon the completion of tithing. It concludes with a detailed description of blessings that follow obedience to God's laws and curses that come with their desecration.
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Parashat Ki Tavo is the 50th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on August 29th, 2026 / 16 Elul 5786
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
26:1 - 26:11· 11 p’sukim
2:
26:12 - 26:15· 4 p’sukim
3:
26:16 - 26:19· 4 p’sukim
4:
27:1 - 27:10· 10 p’sukim
5:
27:11 - 28:6· 22 p’sukim
6:
28:7 - 28:69· 63 p’sukim
7:
29:1 - 29:8· 8 p’sukim
Maftir:
29:6 - 29:8· 3 p’sukim
Haftarah:
Isaiah 60:1 - 60:22· 22 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 1
August 29th, 2026
1:
26:1 - 26:3· 3 p’sukim
2:
26:4 - 26:8· 5 p’sukim
3:
26:9 - 26:11· 3 p’sukim
4:
26:12 - 26:15· 4 p’sukim
5:
26:16 - 26:19· 4 p’sukim
6:
27:1 - 27:4· 4 p’sukim
7:
27:5 - 27:10· 6 p’sukim
Maftir:
27:7 - 27:10· 4 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
Isaiah 60:1 - 60:9· 9 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 2
September 18th, 2027
1:
26:12 - 26:15· 4 p’sukim
2:
26:16 - 26:19· 4 p’sukim
3:
27:1 - 27:3· 3 p’sukim
4:
27:4 - 27:8· 5 p’sukim
5:
27:6 - 27:10· 5 p’sukim
verses 27:6-8, which are part of the 4th aliyah, are read again in the 5th aliyah
6:
27:11 - 28:3· 19 p’sukim
7:
28:4 - 28:6· 3 p’sukim
Maftir:
28:4 - 28:6· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
Isaiah 60:13 - 60:22· 10 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 3
September 9th, 2028
1:
27:11 - 28:3· 19 p’sukim
2:
28:4 - 28:6· 3 p’sukim
3:
28:7 - 28:11· 5 p’sukim
4:
28:12 - 28:14· 3 p’sukim
5:
28:15 - 28:69· 55 p’sukim
6:
29:1 - 29:5· 5 p’sukim
7:
29:6 - 29:8· 3 p’sukim
Maftir:
29:6 - 29:8· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
Zechariah 8:11 - 8:22· 12 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Ki Tavo
Beyond the bikkurim ceremony and the blessings-and-curses framework, Ki Tavo centers on covenant and gratitude as Israel stands at the threshold of the Promised Land. The first-fruits ritual and the third-year tithe confession (Deuteronomy 26) tie thanksgiving directly to the land and to caring for the vulnerable—Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows. Chapter 27 stages a dramatic covenant-renewal ceremony: the Torah is to be inscribed on plastered stones, and the twelve tribes split between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to pronounce blessings and curses aloud. The portion's emotional core is the tochecha (admonition) of chapter 28, where a brief list of blessings for obedience gives way to a long, harrowing catalogue of curses for betrayal, underscoring that fidelity to God's law carries real consequences.
The Haftarah
The haftarah for Ki Tavo is Isaiah 60:1-22, the same selection in most Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities (the consulted sources report no rite-based divergence, though local custom can vary). It is the sixth of the seven "Haftarot of Consolation" (shiva d'nechemta) read on the Shabbatot between Tisha b'Av and Rosh Hashanah, so its pairing follows the calendar of comfort rather than a direct topical match. Thematically the fit is striking: Isaiah's vision of light, redemption, and the ingathering of exiles ("Arise, shine, for your light has come") offers an uplifting counterweight to the frightening curses of Deuteronomy 28. Some congregations following a triennial cycle use shorter selections (for example, Isaiah 60:1-9 or 60:13-22).
Notable passages and verses
The portion's best-known passage is the first-fruits declaration beginning "Arami oved avi"—"A wandering [or perishing] Aramean was my father" (Deuteronomy 26:5)—which is recited and expounded at length in the Passover Haggadah, making it one of the most familiar liturgical texts in Judaism. Ki Tavo also carries the evocative description of the land "flowing with milk and honey" (26:9). A distinctive reading custom attaches to the tochecha (the curses of Deuteronomy 28:15-68): in many communities it is chanted in a hushed, rapid voice without pausing, reflecting reluctance to dwell on the curses. The haftarah's opening words, "Kumi ori ki va orecha" ("Arise, shine, for your light has come"), are likewise widely recognized. Ki Tavo is typically read in late August or September, shortly before Rosh Hashanah.
Frequently asked questions
What is parashat Ki Tavo about?
Ki Tavo ("When You Come [into the land]") spans Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8 and prepares Israel for entering the Promised Land. It opens with the first-fruits (bikkurim) ceremony and the third-year tithe confession, commands a covenant-renewal ritual with blessings on Mount Gerizim and curses on Mount Ebal, and delivers the tochecha—blessings for obedience and an extended catalogue of curses for disobedience. It closes with Moses recounting the wilderness journey and urging fidelity to the covenant. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading with its trope (cantillation).
What is the haftarah for Ki Tavo?
The haftarah is Isaiah 60:1-22, read in most Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities (local custom can vary, and some triennial-cycle congregations use a shorter selection). It is the sixth of the seven Haftarot of Consolation between Tisha b'Av and Rosh Hashanah, and its message of light and redemption answers the curses of Deuteronomy 28 with hope. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice the haftarah with trope as well.
What are the themes of Ki Tavo?
Central themes include gratitude for the land (expressed through the first-fruits offering and tithe confession), covenant responsibility, and the stark choice between blessing and curse depending on faithfulness to God's law. The covenant-renewal ceremony at Gerizim and Ebal dramatizes that responsibility as Israel prepares to enter Canaan. You can hear and practice the full reading with trope on TropeTrainer.
Why is the Aramean verse in Ki Tavo important?
Deuteronomy 26:5—"A wandering [or perishing] Aramean was my father" (Arami oved avi)—is the thanksgiving declaration recited when bringing the first fruits, and it later became a centerpiece of the Passover Haggadah, expounded line by line at the Seder. This makes it one of the most familiar texts in Jewish liturgy. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this passage with its trope.
Where to go next
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
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