27 Aug TO REALLY SEE

In Parshas Re’eh, Moshe continues to
give his final message to Bnei Yisroel.
He speaks of the blessings that come
with following HaShem’s mitzvos, and
the difficulties that will befall the
nation if they abandon the Torah.
Re’eh – See, “Anochi nosein lifneichem
hayom bracha u’klala.” Moshe is
saying, “See, I present before you
today a blessing and a curse.” (Devarim
11:26).
Moshe is addressing the nation. Would
it not have been more appropriate to
say “Shema, Listen”? Why does he use
the term Re’eh – See?
Moshe is telling Bnei Yisroel, observe
the world around you. Re’eh, you can
see with your own eyes the blessings
that come with a Torah-imbued life. A
life of ethics, morals, and family
values. A message for all time.

I think of my mother, the Rebbetzin
a”h, who would invite so many to join
her at her Torah classes. To experience
the world of Torah and mitzvos. To see
first-hand a Shabbos and Tom Tov. She
would share the words written in
Tehillim, “Ta’amu u’re’u ki tov
HaShem, Taste it, and you will see that
HaShem’s way is good”. Try it, you’ll
like it. (Tehillim 34:9) Moshe
understood that it is not enough to hear,
but one must see, in order to realize the
blessings within.
It was summertime. My mother was
lecturing at a hotel in the Catskills,
when a young man who joined Jews for
J came to speak with her. He arrived
with the intent of convincing the
Rebbetzin of his beliefs.
It was a Friday afternoon. Erev
Shabbos. Always a busy time. My
mother had encountered many such
people before, and knew it would be
futile to engage in a theological debate.
So, she invited him to join the family

for Shabbos, after which
she would be happy to
discuss any issues that he
had. By the time Shabbos
came to a close, and we
were making havdala, the
pintele yid, the small, yet
strong spark within his
neshama was awakened.
Having experienced
inspiring tefillos, heard beautiful
zemiros, listened to stimulating shiurim
and engaged in conversation with so
many other guests throughout Shabbos,
he was on a spiritual high. It became
clear to him that a life of Torah and
mitzvos was the proper path to follow.
Re’eh. It has to be seen. It is not enough
just to hear.
Parshas Re’eh is always read on or
close to Rosh Chodesh Elul. This
Shabbos, we will bless the new month
of Elul. Elul, the month leading up to
Rosh HaShana. Elul is a gift of time
given to us by HaShem. Time for
introspection, time to make life
changes, and time to connect HaShem.
“See, I present before you ‘hayom –
today…”. Moshe’s use of the word
hayom, today, takes on added
significance during the month of Elul.
Hayom, today is the first day of the
rest of your life. What better way to
prepare for Rosh HaShana than to
commit to improving one’s life. Each
day comes with the opportunity for a
fresh start, a new beginning. An
opportunity to bring bracha to
ourselves and to our family.
Moshe first addresses the individual.
“Re’eh”, speaking in the singular. But
then Moshe continues in the plural,
stating “lifneichem”, referring to the
entire nation. Moshe is leaving us
with a powerful message. A message
that about the strength of the
individual, and the impact one can
have on many. While each of us has
the responsibility to improve
ourselves, we also have an obligation
to bring blessing to the world around
us. Do a chesed. Share a kind word
. Lift someone’s spirit. Do something
good for the sake of mankind. As my
mother would often say, “Be a
blessing”.

Moshe wasn’t the only one to use the
word re’eh. On Rosh HaShana, we
read in the haftara the story of Chana.
A woman who longed for nothing more
than to be a mother. To bring a child
into this world to serve HaShem.
Chana would travel year after year to
Shilo, where the mishkan stood, and
poured her heart out to HaShem. With
tears flowing, she proclaimed to
HaShem, “ra’oh tir’eh”, look at me.
Look at my pain and affliction. I need
You. I need You to give me the blessing
of a child.
Elul is an acronym for “ani l’dodi,
v’dodi li, I am for my Beloved
(HaShem), and my Beloved is for me.
We take the opportunity of Elul to
“re’eh”, see and contemplate the
blessings that we are rewarded for
living a Torah life. That’s the ani l’dodi,
I am for my Beloved. At the same time,
like Chana, we too, turn to HaShem
and say “look at me, look at my pain”.
Please, don’t forget me. Please, give
me and my family the blessing of a
year of life, health, nachas, happiness
and prosperity. That’s the dodi li.
HaSem is for me.
As a nation, we have been through so
much. We have all been davening for
peace in Eretz Yisroel, the return of the
remaining hostages, the safety of our
valiant soldiers, the recovery of the
injured and the security of our people
at home and throughout the world. We
also have our prayers as individuals.
Each of us has something to ask for.
This Elul, as we pray for the year
ahead, let’s see the blessings around us.
Let’s truly appreciate the goodness that
HaShem provides each of us with.
When HaShem “sees” that we are truly
appreciative of his kindness, we can be
assured that His compassion and
kindness will be with us.