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June 2, 2024

The Maledictions - התוכחה

 The Maledictions - התוכחה, meaning admonition or reproof, is the section in chapter 26 of Sefer Vayikra that highlights the consequence of a failure by the people of Israel to follow G-d's laws and keep his commandments.

It is distinguished from the preceding section, which relates to G-d's blessings, which will be bestowed if the people of Israel walk in G-d's ways and keep his commandments.

Because the admonitions—terror, disease, warfare, famine, and desolation—are distressing, this section is traditionally read in a low voice in synagogue readings but loud enough to be audible to the congregation.

 The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried writes that the Tochecha must always be read without a break.

The three verses before the admonitions and the three after are read in a standard, fully audible voice and must always be included in the reading. Thus, the admonitions would always be accompanied by the message that G-d would remember his covenant with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov.