04 Aug SEEING IS REALIZING

It was a beautiful June day several years
ago. A friend and I drove to the Catskills
to open our summer homes for the season.
When I arrived, it looked like the porch
had settled somewhat over the winter. I
had some difficulty opening the front
door but thought nothing of it. All was
good. By the end of the day, the floors
were washed, bathrooms cleaned, beds
made. Time to lock up and go home. But
the door wouldn’t close. It was stuck. I
pulled and yanked with all my might.
Gathering all my strength, I gave it one
last try. As the door closed, I saw a flash
of bright, white light, followed by a black
line. My vision changed. Luckily my
friend was driving. I was sure that a good
night’s rest would resolve the problem.
But no such luck. The next morning, I
found myself at the eye doctor, who
immediately sent me to a surgeon. He
gave me the bad news. The damage was
worse than I thought. I had suffered a

detached retina, and emergency surgery
would be required. Suddenly, what had
begun as an ordinary summer day had
become frighteningly uncertain.
The surgery was successful, or so I hoped.
But only two weeks later, I developed a
macular hole, requiring a second
operation.
This time, the recovery was much harder.

Part of the healing process was “face-
down positioning”. As the doctor

instructed, chin-to-chest, nose-to-floor, at
all times. For several weeks, instead of
looking at faces, all I saw was shoes. I
spent much of my day lying on the couch,
face down on a donut pillow. I listened to
tapes and CDs of Torah lectures to
stimulate my mind, and Jewish music to
calm my nerves.
One dvar Torah opened with the speaker
asking: “Do you need refuos, do you need
yeshuos?” That’s me! I was all ears.
The speaker mentioned that we strive to
recite 100 brachos each day. He then
spoke about Modim, the thanksgiving

prayer in the Shemoneh
Esrei. He explained that
modim, meaning
thanks, has a gematria,
the numerical value of
100. (Mem=40; Vov=6;
Dalet=4; Yud=10;
Mem=40) He suggested
that we not only recite
100 brachos a day, but
should find 100
blessings in our life to
thank HaShem for.
When we concentrate
on our G-d given gifts,
we will be rewarded
with further blessing. As it says in
Modim,” We thank You… for Your
miracles that are with us daily, for Your
wonders and favors at all times…. for we
always put our hopes in You.”
At first the list came slowly. After all, I
was focused on everything I couldn’t do.
But gradually, one blessing led to another.
Family. Friends. Torah. Kindness. Music.
The gift of hearing when I could not
properly see. Before long, I reached 100
and realized I could have kept going.
The more we recognize HaShem’s
blessings, the challenging and difficult
days don’t seem so overwhelming.
Sometimes, it takes an eye surgery to
really “see”.
In Parshas Re’eh, Moshe continues his
final message to Bnei Yisroel. “Re’eh,
anochi nossein lifneichem hayom
bracha u’klala. See, I am placing before
you today a blessing and a curse.”
(Devarim 11:1). Many Torah
commentators ask why Moshe uses the
term “re’eh – see”, rather than “shema
– listen”?
Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael, “Re’eh—
see.” Open your eyes to the blessings
Hashem has placed before you. When
we recognize those blessings and
choose a life of Torah and mitzvos, we
invite even greater bracha into our
lives.
A strong message. We only have to look
at the world around us to see what a
Torah life brings. When we fill our day
with mitzvos, it makes us kinder, more
compassionate, more grateful. Giving
tzedaka, honoring parents and the
elderly, welcoming guests, visiting the
sick, bringing joy to a chosson and
kalla. To bring the light of Shabbos,
Yom Tov, and Torah learning into our

lives. The message of Re’eh. Just look at
those who keep Torah and mitzvos, and
the choice becomes clear. Our lives will
be infused with joy and bracha.
The word re’eh is written in the singular.
Yet, the pasuk concludes with the word
lifneichem, plural for “before you”. Why
the switch from the singular to the plural?
A life teaching. The choices we make as
an individual can affect multitudes. Our
actions can impact our family, our friends,
our community, even the entire world.
Every person can make a difference.
Each of us has something to add to make
the world a better place.
Moshe includes the word hayom, today,
in his message. He was not just speaking
to his generation, but for all generations
to come. As the Kli Yakar explains, each
and every day is THE day, each day, a
fresh opportunity to choose between
blessing and curse.
This Shabbos, we will bentch the month
of Elul. Parshas Re’eh is always read
either on Shabbos Mevorchim Elul, or on
Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Elul. The
Slonimer Rebbe teaches that the word
re’eh alludes to the month of Elul, for in
Elul HaShem gives us the ability to see
clearly and choose a path that will
ultimately bring blessing into our lives.
Rav Moshe Feinstein, in his sefer Dorash
Moshe, explains that our avoda, our task
in Elul, is a labor of ahava, a labor of
love. To intensify our recognition of
HaShem’s brachos, thereby bringing us
closer to Him, and preparing us for Rosh
HaShana.
As Elul approaches, we ask HaShem to
help us truly “see” – to recognize His
blessings, reflect honestly on our deeds,
appreciate the brachos that surround us,
and choose the path that leads to lasting
bracha.