Parshas Re’eh – To Really See

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

In Parshas Re’eh, Moshe continues to give his final message to Bnei Yisroel. He speaks of the blessings that come with following HaShem’s mitzvos, and the difficulties that will befall the nation if they abandon the Torah.

Re’eh – See, “Anochi nosein lifneichem hayom bracha u’klala.” Moshe is saying, “See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse.” (Devarim 11:26).

Moshe is addressing the nation. Would it not have been more appropriate to say “Shema, Listen”? Why does he use the term Re’eh – See?

Moshe is telling Bnei Yisroel, observe the world around you. Re’eh, you can see with your own eyes the blessings that come with a Torah-imbued life. A life of ethics, morals, and family values. A message for all time.

I think of my mother, the Rebbetzin a”h, who would invite so many to join her at her Torah classes. To experience the world of Torah and mitzvos. To see first-hand a Shabbos and Tom Tov. She would share the words written in Tehillim, “Ta’amu u’re’u ki tov HaShem, Taste it, and you will see that HaShem’s way is good”. Try it, you’ll like it. (Tehillim 34:9) Moshe understood that it is not enough to hear, but one must see, in order to realize the blessings within.

It was summertime. My mother was lecturing at a hotel in the Catskills, when a young man who joined Jews for J came to speak with her. He arrived with the intent of convincing the Rebbetzin of his beliefs.

It was a Friday afternoon. Erev Shabbos. Always a busy time. My mother had encountered many such people before, and knew it would be futile to engage in a theological debate. So, she invited him to join the family for Shabbos, after which she would be happy to discuss any issues that he had. By the time Shabbos came to a close, and we were making havdala, the pintele yid, the small, yet strong spark within his neshama was awakened. Having experienced inspiring tefillos, heard beautiful zemiros, listened to stimulating shiurim and engaged in conversation with so many other guests throughout Shabbos, he was on a spiritual high. It became clear to him that a life of Torah and mitzvos was the proper path to follow.

Re’eh. It has to be seen. It is not enough just to hear.

Parshas Re’eh is always read on or close to Rosh Chodesh Elul. This Shabbos, we will bless the new month of Elul. Elul, the month leading up to Rosh HaShana. Elul is a gift of time given to us by HaShem. Time for introspection, time to make life changes, and time to connect HaShem.

“See, I present before you ‘hayom – today…”. Moshe’s use of the word hayom, today, takes on added significance during the month of Elul. Hayom, today is the first day of the rest of your life. What better way to prepare for Rosh HaShana than to commit to improving one’s life. Each day comes with the opportunity for a fresh start, a new beginning. An opportunity to bring bracha to ourselves and to our family.

Moshe first addresses the individual. “Re’eh”, speaking in the singular. But then Moshe continues in the plural, stating “lifneichem”, referring to the entire nation. Moshe is leaving us with a powerful message. A message that is about the strength of the individual, and the impact one can have on many. While each of us has the responsibility to improve ourselves, we also have an obligation to bring blessing to the world around us. Do a chesed. Share a kind word . Lift someone’s spirit. Do something good for the sake of mankind. As my mother would often say, “Be a blessing”.

Moshe wasn’t the only one to use the word re’eh. On Rosh HaShana, we read in the haftara the story of Chana. A woman who longed for nothing more than to be a mother. To bring a child into this world to serve HaShem.

Chana would travel year after year to Shilo, where the mishkan stood, and poured her heart out to HaShem. With tears flowing, she proclaimed to HaShem, “ra’oh tir’eh”, look at me. Look at my pain and affliction. I need You. I need You to give me the blessing of a child.

Elul is an acronym for “ani l’dodi, v’dodi li, I am for my Beloved (HaShem), and my Beloved is for me. We take the opportunity of Elul to “re’eh”, see and contemplate the blessings that we are rewarded for living a Torah life. That’s the ani l’dodi, I am for my Beloved. At the same time, like Chana, we too, turn to HaShem and say “look at me, look at my pain”. Please, don’t forget me. Please, give me and my family the blessing of a year of life, health, nachas, happiness and prosperity. That’s the dodi li. HaSem is for me.

As a nation, we have been through so much. We have all been davening for peace in Eretz Yisroel, the return of the remaining hostages, the safety of our valiant soldiers, the recovery of the injured and the security of our people at home and throughout the world. We also have our prayers as individuals. Each of us has something to ask for.

This Elul, as we pray for the year ahead, let’s see the blessings around us. Let’s truly appreciate the goodness that HaShem provides each of us with. When HaShem “sees” that we are truly appreciative of his kindness, we can be assured that His compassion and kindness will be with us.

Shabbat Shalom!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l