Parshas Re’eh
“See I present before you today a blessing and a curse” (Devarim 11:26). The use of the word “see” means that it should be abundantly clear to one that the blessings one enjoys and the curses one endures are not the products of coincidence. From the time G-d lifted Avraham above the stars, the Jewish people’s destiny is not tied to mazal, to luck, but rather to their own actions. The blessings come if we obey the commandments of G-d and the curses come if we do not. The destiny of the Jews lies in their own hands not in the roll of dice.
So if misfortune befalls us, we have no one to blame but ourselves. “Good and evil do not emanate from G-d. The human being has nothing to complain about, other than man’s own sins” (Megilas Eicha 3:38:39). The Hebrew words used for “mans’ own sins” are “gever al chata’av,” which means that it is up to each person “lehitgaber,” to overcome his urge to sin. “Rabbi Eliezer said that from the time that G-d uttered the words ‘Re’eh anochi” (see that I am giving you the choice of a blessing or a curse), good and evil do not come from G-d, rather they come automatically. Evil comes to those who do evil and good comes to those who do good” (Medrash Rabbah, Re’eh 4:3).
What is the blessing that G-d bestows on us for keeping the mitzvot? It is that “tishme’u,” you will be able in the future to continue performing the mitzvot. There is a future to keeping mitzvot. Spurning them leads to a dead end. “I have placed life and death before you, blessing and curse, and you shall choose life so that you will live” (Devarim 30:19). Each Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we pray that we will be around next year, to hear the shofar, to be at Kol Nidrei and to sit in the sukkah. And when next year arrives and we are still around to do so, that is our reward, the reward of life itself.
This is also the message of bikkurim, bringing the first fruits to the kohen. The Torah tells us: “This day, G-d commands you to perform these statutes and laws that you shall observe and perform them with all your heart and all your soul” (26:16). Rashi explains the words “You shall observe and perform them” in the following way: “A Heavenly voice blesses him, saying, you brought bikkurim this year; you will be around to do so again next year.”
“Be careful not to bring your burnt offerings in any place you like. It must only be done in the place that G-d shall choose ” (12:13). Familiarity breeds contempt. If we were allowed to offer up sacrifices to G-d in any place of our choice, on our barbeque in the back yard, the gesture would soon become mundane. But if we must trek with our entire family all the way to the Temple in Jerusalem, that becomes a unique event to look forward to. It involves the preparation and investment that transforms a journey into a pilgrimage.
“If there should stand up in your midst a prophet or a dreamer of a dream and he will produce a sign… and the sign comes true and tells you to follow other gods, do not listen to his words, for G-d is testing you to know whether you love Him with all your heart and soul” (13:2-3).
Who are the false prophets of today? They are the scientists who can “prove” to you that the Torah is incorrect, that the world created itself billions years ago and that man descended from monkeys. There may be no logical response to these scientific claims. The only answer is the commitment of love one has toward G-d and His word. Love defies logic and overcomes questions. These false prophets are sent to test us to see how deeply we love G-d and his Torah and whether we can make this love bridge the gap between temporary “truth” and permanent truth. The love of G-d does not come from logic; it comes from learning. As Rashi points out, the words “you should love G-d” are followed immediately by the words “and these words that I have commanded you shall be upon your heart” (6:5). It is only by studying the words of the Torah and putting them to practice, that you will discover the love for G-d which will enable you to live with questions.
“We are children of G-d, so do not lacerate your flesh or tear out your hair in mourning over the dead” (14:1). Despite the pain of loss, life continues and with it our destiny to serve G-d. Whomever we may have lost, we are never complete orphans. We will always have one surviving Parent.
Kosher fish must be equipped with fins to swim against the current and scales to protect against the turbulent sea (14:9). We too, who live in societies where the Torah has become unfashionable and alien to modern mores, need to equip ourselves with stamina to swim against the currents of fashion and with armor to protect us from the raging waves of heresy (Yeshayahu 57:19). We can only do this by adhering to the mitzvot, the power stations that generate eternal light.
