Parashah Ki Tavò

The Jews are instructed to gather large stones when they cross the Jordan River. 
These stones were to be plastered, and the entire Torah was to be engraved upon them. Another set of stones was also to be inscribed with the entire Torah, and be set on Mt. Ebal. 

 Stones letters 

 

Hebrew letters painted on flat stones

Clay colored letters

Hebrew letters painted and engraved on different forms of clay.

parashah ki tavò

The Species of Fruit Brought as Bikurim                                                          Bikurim wood Frame

(Image by Brent Kaufmann)

 The Israelites are commanded to bring the first of their fruit to the Temple, and to deliver all tithes to their proper recipients.
This section introduces us to the mitzvah of bikurim, the requirement to bring one's first fruits to the Holy Temple. This mitzvah applies to fruits and produce grown in the land of Israel, and only those for which the land of Israel is praised: wheat, barley, dates, figs, grapes, pomegranates and olives. When in the Temple, the owner of the fruits recites a brief thanksgiving prayer to G‑d and presents the produce to the priests.