Ki Savo 27:26 · unit 3

Parashas Ki Savo · Passuk 27:26

The Complete Passuk

אָרוּר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָקִים אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה־הַזֹּאת לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָם…

Cursed be he who does not uphold the words of this Torah to do them…

Chabad.org — 27:26

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Yerushalmi Sotah 7:4 (Rav Assi / Rabbi Tanchum).

Sefaria — Yerushalmi Sotah 7:4

E-Daf image — Yerushalmi Sotah 7a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
רַבִּי אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אוֹמֵר, לָמַד וְלִמֵּד וְשָׁמַר וְעָשָׂה וְהָיָה סִיפֵּק בְּיָדוֹ לְהַחֲזִיק וְלֹא הֶחֱזִיק — הֲרֵי זֶה בִּכְלַל אָרוּר.

English: Rabbi Acha in the name of Rabbi Tanchum says: One who learned, taught, observed and performed, and had the power to strengthen [the Torah] but did not strengthen it — this one is included in the category of “cursed.”

In the Yerushalmi: Even full personal fulfillment of learning, teaching, guarding and doing is insufficient if the person possessed the capacity for chizuk (strengthening Torah among others) and failed to use it. Conversely, one who lacked opportunity for personal study yet used whatever strength he had to support Torah is included in the blessing.

Type of Learning

Custom (expansion of “yakim” to include the duty of chizuk).

What Is Learned

The Amen of the nation commits every person to active support of Torah according to his capacity; failure to strengthen when one can is itself a form of not upholding the Torah.