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Home -> 5757 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5757

The blessing; that you listen…and the curse; if you do not listen to the commandments of Hashem your G-d. And you stray from the path that I command you today, to follow gods of others. (11:27,28)

The Torah considers one who strays from the path of Hashem to be  an idol-worshipper.  He who serves idols is tantamount to one who repudiates the entire Torah.  Idolatry is a rejection of the Almighty. One who does not firmly believe and accept Hashem as the Supreme Ruler and Creator of the world apparently spurns His mitzvos and Torah. In Megillas Esther 2:5, the pasuk refers to Mordechai as “Ish Yehudi.”  The Talmud in Megillah 12b explains the term “Yehudi” as an appellation describing one who is “kofer b’avodah zarah,” denies idol worship.  Mordechai was called a Yehudi, not because…

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Home -> 5757 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5757

For you have not yet come unto the resting place or to the heritage. (12:9)

Rashi explains that “menuchah” refers to the Mishkan in Shiloh.  Interestingly, during its tenure in Shiloh, it was forbidden for Jews to offer korbonos on bamos, private altars.  The Mishkan in Shiloh was a national sanctuary.  Consequently, all korbonos were to be offered there.  Horav Mordechai Ilan, zl, notes the word menuchah, resting place, was applied to a place of restriction and discipline.  No longer were people permitted to do as they pleased, offering korbonos when and where they desired.  Now there were regulations to uphold, standards to be maintained, and rules to which they needed to adhere. We Jews…

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Home -> 5757 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5757

You shall harden your heart or close your hand against your destitute brother…for in return for this matter, Hashem your G-d, will bless you in all your deeds and in all your undertaking. (15:7,10)

The Torah tells us clearly that one who gives tzedakah should not concern himself with his momentary financial loss, for Hashem will bless him in return.  Moreover, the contribution that he gives will be the source of his blessing.  The Chofetz Chaim commented on this pasuk with a story that serves as an analogy, giving greater meaning to the pasuk.  Once an illiterate farmer  from a small village came to the market with his usual sacks of grain.  Due to the farmer’s limited scope of education, his mathematical acumen was, at best,  poor.  For every sack that he emptied into…

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Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5756

“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26)

The Torah is expressing the basic principle of bechirah chafshis, free-will. The blessing, which results from one’s good deeds, is catalyzed by one’s own positive decision. Similarly, one effects the curse by a negative decision. The Sfas Emes posits that there is a bracha for thanking Hashem for the gift of free-will, which distinguishes man from all other creatures. The abilitiy to discern between good and evil and to decide which path to take, raises man above all other creations. Everyday we recite this bracha, vkhk ihcu ouh ihc ihjcvk vbhc hufak i,b rat” Who gave the rooster understanding to…

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Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5756

“See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” (11:26)

If Moshe is addressing all of Klal Yisrael, why does he speak in the singular – vtr – “while the word ofhbpk, “before you” is in the plural form? Moreover, why does he tell them to see? Would it not have been just as effective had he said, “I place before you a blessing and a curse?” Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, suggests that the concept of blessing is in the mind of the individual. Some feel that continued good health is a blessing. In contrast, others feel that mild sickness may even be viewed as a blessing, since it encourages…

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Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5756

“You shall deliver the blessing on Har Gerizim…. Are they not on the other side of the Jordan, far in the direction of the sunset…. across from Gilgal, near the plain of Moreh. Only at the place that Hashem… shall choose …. to place His Name shall you seek out His Presence and come there.” (11:29,30 – 12:5)

The Torah describes in detail the exact location of Har Gerizim. The Torah leaves no room for error, designating the simplest and most direct course to the mountain of blessing. In contrast, in regard to the Bais Ha’Mikdash, the Torah offers no “directions.” The Torah demands that we “seek it out.” We are to search for the Bais Ha’Mikdash. No map, no “trip tik” eases our search. Search and you will find -but no directions are offered. Why? Would it not make sense that the Bais Ha’Mikdash, the spiritual center of our People, the holy place where the Shechinah reposes,…

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Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5756

“If there should stand up in your midst a prophet and he will produce to you a sign or a wonder.” (13:2)

Rashi interprets ,ut, sign, as being a supernatural event in heaven, while he suggests that a ,pun, wonder, is a miraculous event on earth. Horav Shlomo Yosef Zevin, zl, takes a practical approach to understanding these two types of “miracles.” Two phenomena may cause one to turn away from Torah: misguided philosophies or base desires. When the Torah admonishes us not to stray after our heart and eyes, it is a reference to the desires of the heart and the confused and false theories of the mind. “The heart lusts and the eyes see,” writes Rashi at the end of…

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Home -> 5756 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5756

“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt.” (16:12)

Why is it necessary to remember that we were once slaves in Egypt? One would think that remembering the miracle of the Exodus should be the prime focus of remembrance. Horav Shimon Schwab, zl, offers the following rationale. In the Talmud Megillah 4a, Chazal teach that one is obligated to read the Megillah at night and to repeat it the next day. Rashi attributes this halachah to the fact that Klal Yisrael cried out to Hashem at night and during the day. This halachah is perplexing! Are we to celebrate freedom and joy — or are we to remain apathetic,…

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Home -> 5755 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5755

“See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing that you listen to the mitzvos of Hashem, your G-d, that I command you today.” (11:26,27)

The text of the pasuk begs elucidation. Why does the Torah begin this parsha with the word vtr, “see”. It could have simply stated, “I present before you today a blessing and a curse.” Second, Rashi states that the pasuk alludes to the blessing and curse that were stated on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival. If this were the case, the Torah should have spoken in the future tense; i.e.  the blessing that I will give to you. Why does the Torah speak in the present tense ?  Third, why were the tribes split, half of them situated on each…

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Home -> 5755 -> Re'eh

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Re'eh, 5755

“See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing that you listen… and the curse if you do not listen.” (11:26-28)

Why does the Torah seize upon “listening” as the requisite for blessing ?  Why not action ? Are we not implored to “observe” and to “do” — not merely to “listen” ? Horav Shmuel Pinchasi, Shlita, asserts that the source of blessing and its tragic counterpart is one’s ability to “listen.” Even prior to one’s decision, one’s ability to listen will determine whether his actions will result in blessing or curse. One who refuses to listen, who is afraid to confront the reality of truth, is relegating himself to a life of curse. This form of listening does not refer…

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