B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 28, 5781 / August 6, 2021

This week's Parsha, Re'ay, begins with Moshe, before his passing, telling the Jewish people, "See, I set before you this day a blessing and the opposite of blessing. The blessing, if you will listen to the commandments of G-d, your G-d, which I command you this day; and the opposite of blessing, if you shall not hearken to the commandments.”

Q.  If the reward for observing G-d’s commandments is blessing, why do we see many good people who have difficulty in this world, while many who are not good live the good life in this world?

A.  Our sages give the following parable to explain this.  There was a junction in the road from which two roads lead to the big city. One road looked exceedingly difficult to travel on, while the other one was paved and looked very tempting.  People would come to the crossroad and naturally wanted to take the paved and seemingly better road. 

But there was a man sitting at the crossroad warning everyone, “Don’t take the road which is tempting, It may look inviting now, but further down the road there are thorns, rocks and the road becomes extremely difficult to travel. Access to your destination will be very complicated and may even be impossible. The other road, however, may seem difficult in the beginning, but as you continue it becomes easier and getting to your destination will be a sure thing.”

Only foolish people took the seemingly easy road. Smart people took the road which looked difficult now, but eventually found themselves at their destination faster and less tired. 

Moshe, like the person sitting at the crossroad, tells the Jewish people to be careful about the two roads in life; the road which seems to be a blessing - where things seem to be easy going and enjoyable; and the road which seems difficult and takes effort.  

Moshe reminds them not to judge good and bad; blessing and difficulty by what they see today.  Today may be only a test. The real measurement of right and wrong, blessing and curse is not what looks easy and enjoyable today, but living our life the way G-d commanded us. True blessing is, “if you will listen to the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, which I command you.“

The good things in life do not necessarily come easy; Moshe tells the Jewish people that one must know what’s temporary and what is everlasting.  One must see the long-term effect of their actions today and then they will see what is really good and what is truly blessed.

Our sages in Pirkei Avot say, “Who is a wise person? One who sees the future.”  A wise person is not one who is blinded by the pleasures of today, but one who sees the long-term effect of their actions.

Shabbat we bless the new month, Elul. Rosh Chodesh will be Sunday (beginning Saturday night) and Monday. Elul is the last month of the year, in which we prepare for the New Year, 5782.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:57 / Shabbat ends: 9:04