Parashat Re'eh - "see"

Parashat Re'eh   -   "see"

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17; Isaiah 54:11-55:5; John 7: 37-52

The first words of this week’s portion are “Behold I give before you this day Bracha (blessing).” With Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) just around the corner, may Hashem grant you and your entire family a wonderful, healthy, happy, prosperous and sweet new year and may we merit seeing the redemption this year!

This Shabbat we read the portion of Re’eh, which marks the 6thmonth of the Hebrew calendar, the month of Elul. The portion begins with Hashem’s assurance that by fulfilling His commandments we will procure His blessings and continues with the unique sanctity of the Temple in Yerushalayim and our eternal bond to the site of the Temple.

Thereafter the Torah discusses at length the Kosher laws, the laws of charity, and the holidays. The month of Elul is called the month of mercy, and is the month in which we prepare for the days of judgment, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

There is a special connection between the Kosher laws and the spiritual introspection in the month of Elul. Eating is metaphorical of our service of Hashem, in that when we eat, we elevate one form of existence to a higher one (the inanimate, plants, and animals become part of the human). Similarly, through following the Torah, we elevate the mundane to the sacred. An animal skin becomes a Mezuzah, and a coin becomes an instrument of charity.

The symbols of a Kosher animal are that it has split hooves and chews it’s cud. Both of these serve as metaphors for aspects of our service of Hashem. Pure service of Hashem demands that we serve Him not as an expression of our nature, but rather total submission to His will. When we serve Hashem in only one manner, for example kindness or severity, this is a sign that we are expressing our own nature rather than subjugating our will. When we are well rounded in Hashem’s service, this is a sign that we are serving Him. This is exemplified by the narrative of the binding of Yitzchak, which we read in the Torah the first day of Rosh Hashanah. After Avraham was ready to sacrifice his son, Hashem said, “Now I know that you fear G-d.” Previous thereto, Avraham had served Hashem for decades and had risked his own life for G-d’s service. Why did Hashem say now I know? Avraham was the epitome of kindness. Although he had served Hashem for many years, when he went against his nature by being ready to sacrifice his son, he showed his true devotion. This is symbolized by the split hooves, which go in both directions.

In order not to err, we must constantly contemplate and reevaluate what we have done. Not only must we fix our mistakes, but we must improve upon our good deeds as well, assuring they are with full sincerity and seeking to do them in a more complete manner. This is symbolized by chewing of the cud.

There is also a special connection between charity and the month of Elul. Giving of charity is a form of supplication to Hashem that He should act in a charitable manner. It is appropriate that even if we are fully deserving of vindication in Hashem’s judgment, we consider ourselves dependent upon His mercy.

We find that even when Moshe prayed for himself, he beseeched HaShem’s charity. If we have made mistakes, we certainly need His charity. This is why we begin the Selichot with the prayer L’cha Hashem Hatzedaka, which means that “Your acts Hashem are all charity.” Even His judgments are redemptive, never punitive! Therefore, in these days preceding Rosh Hashanah, we ought to increase our acts of charity and kindness towards others.

Sha’ul taught a foundational principle of giving that should govern our lives. In 1 Cor 11: 23, he taught“for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you’. We who have been the recipients of His grace, mercy & forgiveness, need to extend the like to others irrespective of whether we consider them to be worthy or not. And, never forget, that when it comes to giving, we know that G-d loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).

The Greek word for ‘cheerful’ is ‘hilario’ from which we get ‘hilarious’. I am still waiting for the moment when I observe someone placing his offering in the tzedakah box with a huge smile on his face!