Parshat Re’eh begins with the following words:
Re’eh anochi noten lifneichem hayom bracha u’klala
See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse (Devarim 11: 26)
In Moshe’s final speech to the Jewish people, he calls upon the Jewish people to listen to the blessing they will receive if they heed to God’s command, and the curse that they will have to endure if they do not. In reading the opening line of this parsha, we are stricken by Moshe’s call to see the blessing and curse. Throughout the Torah, including several times in our parsha itself, Moshe calls upon them to listen to the words of Hashem. Why do we find Moshe introducing these words with the seemingly odd command to see? What exactly did Moshe want the Jewish people to see?
The Kli Yakar asks also on this verse: why Moshe first addresses the people using the singular word reeh (see), but then refers to them in the very same sentence in the plural with the word, lifneichem (before you all)?
In answering this question, the Kli Yakar here provides a beautiful insight into the deeper meaning of Moshe’s words. He suggests that the use of the singular word re’eh was intended to speak to each individual – to remind each individual that each one of them has the potential to make this choice between a blessed or a cursed life. At the very same time, the use of the plural word was to remind them that they each are part of a greater whole – and with each decision they make, they have the power to affect not only their own lives, but also the lives of all those that stand with them.
In essence, Moshe is asking the Jewish people to see, to notice, themselves, and to acknowledge their individuality, uniqueness, and potential – and to see all of this within the context of the larger community. This responsibility each individual has in this world is an important concept in Judaism. Rabbi Yisroel Ciner points to the Gomorrah (Kiddushin 40B), which teaches that a person must always see themselves as hanging in a perfect balance between merits and sins. In a similar vein, the Rambam write that the entire world is judged on Rosh Hashana. At this most precarious time, the entire world stands in this balance between merits and sins. With every action we take, each individual does not only have the power to tip his own scale to mark him in the book of life, but to determine the fate of the entire world.
When we do not recognize our own potential to make a change in our own lives, we certainly do not see the power we have to make a difference in the world around us. Moshe understood this about human nature – and for this reason he first calls attention to the individual – see yourself, find yourself amongst the crowd and realize your own greatness and potential. Then you can and will me moved to make choices that will ultimately bring goodness into this world.
This idea is also developed by Rabbi Zev Leff, based on the teaching of the Sfat Emet who suggests that the word today is emphasized throughout Moshe’s speech to encourage the Jewish people to take action today. Rabbi Leff suggests that each da a Jew should feel that he could make a fresh start, not hindered by yesterday’s mistakes or poor choices. He suggests that this is why the blessing and curse were given just as they were entering the land of Israel, when the Jewish people are starting anew.
In fact, we understand the message of constant renewal most clearly from the shofar blasts that we hear throughout the month of Elul and culminating on Rosh Hashanah as we enter the new year.
The familiar pattern is as follows: tekiya, shevarim-teruah, tekiyah gedolah. There is a continuous straight tone, followed by broken blasts, and concluding once more with the long, continuous and unbroken sound. This pattern is meant to symbolize our own life patterns and paths – as we start out straight, but are bound to make mistakes along the way.
Ultimately, though, we can return to the straight path – and this time we are stronger than we were the first time around. We mustn’t judge ourselves too harshly. We mustn’t think that we are too far-gone. We mustn’t depend on the others who perhaps seem more righteous or holy than we are to bring blessing and merit to this world.
The Belzer Rebbe points out that it seems strange to ask Hashem during the Mincha prayer, just minutes before Rosh Hashana, the New Year, to bless the year (baruch aleynu et Hashanah hazot) – after all, there are only minutes left – what could possibly change?
The answer he poses is a powerful lesson to be learned: Yeshuat Hashem k’heref ayin – the salvation of Hashem can come with the blink of an eye. Perhaps when we make the decision to change it cannot be accomplished with the blink of an eye. But, I think these powerful words remind us that change is always possible – and with the help of Hashem and our own efforts we can change ourselves, and the world around us, for the better.
It is worth noting that Netivot Shalom suggests that the call to see is not merely to see the different opportunities for mitzvot or to acquire blessings and merits – but instead the call is to recognize all of the conditions in our lives that lead us to fulfilling our own individual missions and potentials. The call is to see that all of the struggles, failures, and successes of our lives are part of the very conditions that allow each of us to fulfill our Divine mission - a job that only one individual has the potential to fulfill. When we see that by changing ourselves, we are really changing the world.
As we head into the month of Elul, a time of repentance and self-growth, let us be able to learn from our past – both the good we have accomplished and the wrongs we want to correct. May we all be able to recognize our value and potential for good – and be inspired to raise ourselves higher – knowing that the power to change not only ourselves but the world around us rests within each of us. May we all be zocheh to live up to that potential! Shabbat Shalom, Taly
