By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

“Re’eh – Look – See. I set before you today bracha, blessing and klalla, curse.” (Devarim 11:28).

Moshe is speaking to Bnei Yisroel, placing before them two totally different life paths. One of blessing and goodness, the other of pain and difficulty.

But why the term “re’eh – see”? If Moshe is speaking, shouldn’t it have been “shema – listen”?

Moshe is telling the nation “re’eh”, visualize a life of bracha as compared to a life of hardship. He understood that the mind’s eye is so strong, so powerful, that its images can have a life-long impact.

Malbim explains that in using the term “re’eh – see”, Moshe is telling his beloved people to look at the world around them, to observe its people and their lives. To watch those who live a life of Torah and mitzvos, and they will see people who are blessed.

My mother a”h would teach that we should follow HaShem’s words to Avraham Avinu – “Veheyei bracha, and you will be a blessing… and all the people of the earth will be blessed through you”. (Bereishis 12:2-3)

To actually be a blessing. To do good. Be there for others and you will surely see bracha in your own life.

While certainly nice, blessing does not mean a big, beautiful house, over-the-top vacations or the largest bank account. Blessing means inner peace and tranquility, living a purposeful life, a life of meaning and fulfillment.

My mother cherished giving brachos. So often, she would bentch us and so many others with the bracha to “have nachas from yourself”. To be not just satisfied, but proud and happy of where you are in life. To wake up every morning looking forward to accomplishing more and more.

The Kotzker Rebbe teaches that we each have our own individual path to Torah. What touches one person’s neshama doesn’t necessarily touch the next person’s. Re’eh – seek out; find the path that speaks to you. Find your way of bringing bracha to the world.

It is interest to note that while the passage begins with the word “re’eh – see” in the singular form, addressing the individual, it then switches to “nosein lifneichem, placing before you”, using the plural term for you. Our Torah is teaching us that while we might live our life as individuals, we can’t separate ourselves from the world around us. We can’t say “It’s not my problem… let someone else worry about it. Let someone else care.”

One of the messages of parshas Re’eh is that the “me” has to switch to “we”. Each one of us has a responsibility to make a difference. To make the world a better place. To be an individual who cares not only about himself, but also about those around us.

Moshe’s message in Sefer Devarim was not only directed to those of his generation, but was a message for all generations. The pasuk continues, “Nosein lifneichem hayom – I present before you today”. From Moshe Rabbeinu to his generation, to modern times and for all future generations. The message is constant – to live a life of blessing “hayom – today”.

As a high school student, I loved getting pretty decorative notebooks and folders. Many of them had beautiful outdoor scenes with meaningful messages printed across them. I remember one in particular with the message, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life”. Hayom – Today. Each day comes with new opportunities. Each day is a chance to bring bracha to the world. It’s our choice. The path lies before us.

This Shabbos we will bentch the new month of Elul. The parshiyos read during Chodesh Elul are timely; they have to do with self-improvement, of working on ourselves before Rosh HaShanah. Elul is HaShem’s gift of time to us. A month to prepare before the Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment. A month of introspection, of tefilla, of connecting to HaShem. The message of Re’eh and the message of Elul are one.

As the shofar is sounded each day in Elul, we are reminded that today is the first day of the rest of our life. We can start over again. We can make a difference.

Hamodia magazine carries a column entitled “An American in Yerushalayim”. In it, Dov Fuchs shares stories, anecdotes with messages about his life as a transplanted American. One week he wrote about one of his favorite comfort foods, FROYO, a frozen yogurt. He would often stop off at the FROYO yogurt store on his way home from work and enjoy a cup of FROYO. Until one day, he arrived and the store is shuttered. He was disappointed about missing his favorite treat. A few weeks later he passes by, and sees a sign on that same storefront which read YOLO. How happy he was – FROYO became YOLO, yogurt that’s low.

Dov was thrilled about the newly reopened store, and tried out the new dessert. And guess what – it was better tasting that the original FROYO. YOLO became his new go-to place. One day, he inquired of the staff at YOLO as to what were the ingredients that made this new treat so delicious. He was told that it’s the whole milk, heavy cream and sugar. He learned that the new product wasn’t low-fat yogurt after all, but that YOLO stood for YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. You only live once, so you may as well take it all in, and get the tastiest, richest frozen dessert out there.

To Mr. Fuchs, the YOLO experience came with a deeper message. And as we approach Chodesh Elul, we should ponder the real significance of YOLO – You Only Live Once. Yes, we all have only one sojourn on this earth. Do we squander that opportunity on seemingly enjoyable “sweets” that leave us with no eternal value, or do we make use of each and every day to absorb real delicacies – Torah, mitzvos and good deeds, that will bring us true life both in this world and in the World To Come.

Re’eh – See. The choice is ours. To choose the right path that leads us to a life of blessing and fulfillment.

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