Twice a year we read in the Torah paragraphs of warnings - hahahaOnce before Shavuot, in the parashah Bechukotai, and again before Rosh Hashanah, in the parashah Ki Tavo (except that between the reading itself and the festival, we separate with the reading of another parashah: before Shavuot, with the parashah Bamidbar, and sometimes also with Naso, and before Rosh Hashanah, with the parashah Nitzavim, and sometimes Nitzavim-Vayelech). The explanation for this is that the paragraphs of warning are not, as it may seem at first glance, merely warnings of punishment and suffering, but rather aim to purify and refine humankind. Just as it is necessary to rinse and thoroughly clean a vessel before placing valuable items inside, so too before the festival of Shavuot and before Rosh Hashanah, there is a need for spiritual purification, which is achieved through the paragraphs of admonition.
The difference that stands out between the warnings of parashat Bejukotai (from before Shavuot) and those of Ki Tavo (which is read before Rosh Hashanah) is that in Bejukotai there are 49 curses, while in Ki Tavo there are 98 curses mentioned - double.
Since the purpose of admonitions is to purify the vessels of the soul, the duplication of curses in Ki Tavo teaches that on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah and the month of Tishrei, there is a need for double the preparation required before Shavuot.
The first Tablets of the Law were given on the festival of Shavuot, while the second Tablets were given on Yom Kippur (in the month of Tishrei). It is written on these that they are a "double measure." This expresses the superiority of the month of Tishrei over Shavuot.
The spiritual flow that occurs on Shavuot is a gift from Above, while the spiritual flow of Tishrei comes as a result of our work. The first Tablets were given "from Above," as an act of kindness from the Most High, while the second Tablets came as a consequence of our work. Teshuvah - from the repentance of the Jews. That is why its quality is superior, of "double measure".
This characterizes the entire month of Tishrei. Its whole essence revolves around our spiritual work. This begins in the month of Elul, a month dedicated entirely to the Teshuvah, The return to God and spiritual awakening continues on Rosh Hashanah, in the Ten Days of Teshuvah, The spiritual flow we receive this month begins with Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shimni Atzeret, and culminates in Simchat Torah. It is not a gift "from Above," but rather the product of our spiritual labor, the work of creation. This Divine flow is of a higher order.
Therefore, a higher level of spiritual purification is also required on Rosh Hashanah. The more precious and elevated the Divine flow, the greater the "rinsing" of the vessels must be. This is the purpose of reading the "admonition"—to prepare ourselves for the higher spiritual flow of the month of Tishrei.
From this we learn that the suffering of Exile is also, inwardly, a purification and a refinement in order to receive the extraordinary flow of messianic redemption, and the harshness of the difficulties of exile gives us a perspective of how extraordinary it will be when the true and complete redemption arrives, very soon indeed.
Extracted from www.jabad.org.ar