The theme of the Torah portion Ki Tavo (Deut. 26:1) is particularly powerful during this month of Elul.
In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman find that the portion itself seems to contain two utterly different worlds: The farmer walking on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with his first fruits offering amid music, gratitude and joy-- and the terrifying darkness of the verses of the admonition.
But in reality they are not two subjects at all...they are relating to the same concept: the importance of serving God with joy, and learning to appreciate that everything we have in this world, is exactly what we are meant to have. The secret is to learn to receive the blessings in our lives, with joy and appreciation.