Adapted by HaTanakh.com Staff from Rabbi Ezra Bick's audio shiur
Parashat Ki Tavo features a ceremony with the list of curses at Mount Gerizim and Eival. Ramban seeks to explain the meaning of “yakim” in the final statement in the list which exhorts the people to “establish” the words of the Torah, to do them.
Rashi sees “yakim” here to mean “fulfill”—Bnei Yisrael must accept the entire Torah to fulfil it. Ramban, however, views that as superfluous: Bnei Yisrael had already accepted the Torah at Sinai! Rather, the exhortation here is to acknowledge the mitzvoth in one’s heart and accept them as true in one’s own eyes, as well as accepting the concept of reward and punishment.
Though Ramban portrays this mitzvah as internally, psychologically extablishing the Torah as a pillar of life, Ramban also brings other meanings of “yakim” in his commentary. The Talmud Yerushalmi suggests that “yakim” could mean “enforce” or “strengthen”, yielding two other readings of this verse: that Beit Din (court system or government) is responsible for enforcing the system of mitzvoth (with rewards and punishments), or that one who is strong in keeping the mitzvoth should help those who are struggling with it.
Ramban sees the mitzvah inherent in the verse as referring to an internal upholding and acceptance of the mitzvoth as true and as central to one’s life. He explains that the curse is for those that deny the mitzvoth. A ceremony which reflects the “pshat” explanation of establishing the Torah is reflected in the Hagbah ritual as part of the Torah reading: we physically raise the Torah and recite verses that symbolize the inner acceptance and recognition of the Torah as being true and as being a central part of our lives.
Adapted by HaTanakh.com Staff from Rabbi Ezra Bick's audio shiur.