B"H
Thursday, Menachem Av 28, 5776 / September 1, 2016 - Hakhel year
This week’s Parsha, Re’ay begins with the words, “Re’ay” – “See I set before you this daya blessing and a curse. The blessing, if you will listen to the commandments of G-d your G-d, which I command you this day...” The name of the Parsha is the first word of the Parsha, Re’ay – See.
Our sages ask, “Why does the Torah use the expression “see”to impress upon us that the observance of G-d’s commandments and the performance of good deeds bring about blessings?
Also, why is the word “Re’ay” (“see”) written in the singular, when Moshe is addressing the entire Jewish nation?
The great Torah commentator, Iben Ezra, explains that Moshe wants to emphasize the importance and effect which each individual has not only upon oneself, but upon the entire nation.
Moshe begins by addressing the individual! Observe G-d's commandments even though you are only one person, for every individual brings blessings to the entire nation and indeed the entire world!"
How can one’s actions have such a great impact? Maimonides gives the following guideline. “A person must at all times feel that the entire universe, is precisely balanced on a scale. One side of the scale holds the good deeds (mitzvot) while the other side contains the negative actions. Since the scale is exactly balanced, each action will tip the scale in one direction or the other. This way, we can see how important every act of every individual is to our welfare and that of the entire world.
As mentioned, the name of the Parsha, "Re'ay," means “see.” The Torah implies that the conviction that mitzvot bring blessings should be so strong as if we see it.
Our sages explain this with the following parable: A poor man bought a lottery ticket and won a huge sum of money. When he realized that he won, he ran home and told his family. Their excitement and rejoicing was heard a distance away. People came to inquire about the celebration and the poor man told them of his good fortune. "Now I am the wealthiest person in town!" he said.
"But you haven't collected the money yet! You have to travel to the big city to get it. In the meantime, you are still poor. You don’t have a penny more than you had yesterday. Why are you joyous now?"
"You speak like fools," responded the poor man. "True, I do not have the money yet, but the very fact that I won the lottery and the money is waiting for me, makes me feel as if I already have it in my pocket!"
The same is true with mitzvot. The Torah tells us that the fact that mitzvot bring about G-d’s blessings must be affixed in our minds so strong as if we actually see them.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY