Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat Re’eh vort is being sponsored by Rabbi Aba and Rebbetzin Laura Wagensberg of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated in loving memory of their fathers: Moshe ben Me’ir Yechiel and Avraham ben Aharon L’ilui Nishmatam and for the safety of the Chayalim, as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Wagensberg family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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With our Parsha’s opening words: “Re’eh Anochi Notein… See, I present…” {Sefer Devarim, Perek 11, posuk 26 rendered to English in both “The Sapirstein Edition, The Torah With Rashi’s Commentary” and “The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash”), and in the two subsequent Parshiyot, we will learn most of the Torah laws found in Sefer Devarim.
“The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash” renders to English Sefer Devarim, Perek 11, posukim 26 – 28:
“See, I present before you today, a blessing and a curse. The blessing: that you hearken to the commandments of Hashem, Keilokeichem, that I command you today. And the curse: if you do not hearken to the commandments of Hashem, Keilokeichem, and you stray from the path that I command you today, to follow gods of others, that you do not know.”
“The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash” provides commentaries (pages 998 — 999) :
According to Rashi, Moshe informed Am Yisrael about the blessing and curse that would be pronounced later on Har Gerizim and Har Eival.
Although Moshe said that he was setting out the choice today, and that elaborate ritual would occur only after the Yardein had been crossed [The Artscroll Stone Chumash referring to Sefer Devarim, Perek 27, posukim 11 – 26], Moshe now explained to Am Yisrael what the formula for the blessings and curses would be. [The Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Mizrachi]
According to Ramban, however, Sefer Devarim, Perek 11, posukim 26 – 28 are unrelated to Har Gerizim and Har Eival: rather Moshe spoke in general terms, saying that those who observed the commandments would be blessed and those who did not would be cursed.
“Re’eh — See” — The blessing and curse are not simply promises for the future. One can actually see that people who observe the Torah have a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment and spiritual growth. The blessing is there for all to see. [The Artscroll Stone Chumash citing Malbim]
A note regarding The Artscroll Stone Chumash citing of Malbim regarding “Re’eh — See” — to see “the blessing…” If this author comprehends the understandings of Rabbi Hershel Reichman, in his Sefer “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel Volume 2” (pages 671 – 672) regarding “eating the fruits of those Mitzvot now” from last week’s Parshat Eikev, those who observe the Torah can see these “fruits” which would include sense of accomplishment, fulfillment and spiritual growth.
It would seem to this author that these “fruits” are the benefits of observing the Torah and Mitzvot, while the actual reward for these Mitzvot only occurs in Olam Haba..
This author wonders to what extent the blessings and curses to be subsequently pronounced on Har Gerizim and Har Eival relate to rewards or punishments in this world or in the next?
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, z”l provides a more detailed commentary on Re’eh in his Sefer, “Kol Dodi” (page 270) :
We may ask, why does Moshe say “Re’eh — See” in singular form? He was, after all, talking to the whole assembly, as we see from the use of the plural word “Lifneichem — before you,” rather than the singular form “Lifawnecha.” Furthermore, why does he use the word “see” at all when he could have said more simply, “I am placing a blessing and a curse before you”?
When Moshe said “Re’eh — See,” in the singular, he meant that each individual will be given whatever he personally considers a blessing. However, sometimes the things people think are blessings turn out not to be good for them, such as wealth, which may expose its owner to temptations best avoided, or make them a target for dangerous criminals. Conversely, things that seem bad can turn out to be great blessings, such as situations… in which people miss travel connections and thereby avoid fatal accidents.
That’s why Moshe used the word “Re’eh — See.” Not only will you be given blessings, but one will actually see how they are blessings and why they are good for him, even though others may not agree.
Rabbi Hershel Reichman, in his Sefer “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel Volume 2” provides commentary regarding the intellect and the heart in performing Mitzvot (pages 688, 694 – 695):
As human beings, we combine logical thinking and emotional experiences. The goal is to develop the Jew’s mind and intellect in the Torah way to know Hashem… At the same time, we should develop our closeness to Hashem through our emotional experience. The purpose of Torah is to bring us closer to Hashem through our moach (intellect and thought), and through our lev (the heart and emotions).
The study of Torah is primarily an intellectual endeavor. The performance of Mitzvot is hopefully not so much intellectual as it is emotional….
While in general, Torah study is the intellectual side, the emotional part of it is very important. We have to feel an
emotional connection to the Torah that we learn. This emotional desire and enjoyment in the study of Torah is very important as it keeps us committed to continue learning.It is much harder to produce Kedusha in the heart than in the mind. The mind is a machine; show it the logic and sense of Torah and the mind will accept it, The heart though, due to its emotional passions, does not respond to the logic of Torah… It is difficult to replace… anti-religious passions and secular drives with the love of Hashem…
A Jew’s heart begins to desire only G’dliness and holiness. This is our passion, our lev.
May it be that our leadership — governing, judicial and IDF high command echelons, as well as kol Am Yisrael come to achieve a faithfulness and consistency in our avodah — both V’Ahavtah L’Arecha Kamocha, as One, and in our Service of Hashem, B’Ezrat Hashem
May our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators, Iran and the entire terror cabal, B’Yad Hashem, and become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.”
May we see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May we see, with Operation Roaring Lions — the joint action by our Chayalim and the United States against the Mullahs of what has been the Islamic Caliphate dictatorship controlling Iran, that Islam and its barbarous terrorist tentacles of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, as well as Qatar, Turkey, the Houthies of Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, Afganistan, possibly Egypt, and all who seek war against the Jews be totally eradicated, both in Israel’s neighborhood, as well as internationally, B’Ezrat Hashem. May we see a government of Israel secure in it’s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Ezrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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