Two choices - two mountains. There they are, the whole community of ancient Israelites standing on two mountain tops, Mount Gerizim (the one for blessings) and Mount Ebal (the one for curses). Uphold the covenant and enjoy a life of blessing, or spurn the covenant and suffer cosmically ordained curses; sounds like an easy choice, right?!
On paper - yes, but in practice - not always. Looking at a few of the declarations made toward Mt Ebal, we read "Cursed is one who moves their fellow's landmark - and the people shall say, Amen. Cursed is one who subverts the rights of the stranger the fatherless, and the widow - and the people shall say, Amen... Cursed is the one who strikes down his fellow in secret - and the people shall say, Amen." (Deut. 27:11-26) At first blush, many of us would think Easy choice! I would never do any of those things.
But, perhaps there is a hidden question of what it means to be guilty of these affronts. Can one be "Cursed" for doing a thing passively, or for being complacent in the knowledge that others in their community are guilty of the offence?
The challenge presented to us by parshat Ki Tavo is that the decision, blessing or curse, is a communal rather than an individual one. As the people all say "Amen" from their two mountain-tops, they respond in one voice; together they will be blessed, or together they will be cursed. What, then, is the power of the individual? We cannot control the actions of another - but we can hold them accountable. As we read the account of the ancient Israelites taking up the call to end oppression, subjugation, and violence in their community, may we be called from across the millennia to join them in their communal shout, "Amen!"