Re’eh
Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
It is time for rabbis and cantors to ratchet up the tension level! On this Shabbat we announce the beginning of the month of Elul, to be observed on Tuesday and Wednesday, the last new moon before Rosh Hashanah! The choir has begun its rehearsal cycle and your rabbis are busy trying to find words that will touch your souls as you re-enter the sanctuary for the High Holy Days. The ideal, though, would be that each of you would feel with us the urgency of the moment, look at the calendar and understand that we are entering a special month. This is a time to repair and to prepare. I cannot throw myself into the specific “tasks” of the High Holy Days until I have delved into the content of my life, my relationships - family and friends, my obligations - community and society, my faith - in God and in our people’s ability to survive and thrive.
This Shabbat’s Torah portion begins with the word “Re’eh,” the commandment to see. Moses sets before the people the choice of blessing or curse, if they obey God’s commandments or if they don’t. The Torah portion then takes us on an exploration of the laws of Kashrut, details of how we are to observe tithing and an outline of the three pilgrim festivals of Pesach, Sukkot and Shavuot.
The initial word, the commandment to see, is not to be taken literally. We know that often when we ask “Can’t you see...” what we really mean is “can’t you understand, grasp, comprehend, see with your mind’s eye....” Look around you and see: what is the state of society, how do the poor fare and how’s your tithing been lately? Look around you and see, after having watched the movies and being moved by the literature, what’s the mileage in the car you drive and how green is the world around you?
To look around may not be a bad place to start the process that leads to the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe, as the High Holy Days are traditionally named). The eyes don’t always deceive; sometimes what we see is really what is out there! And not liking what we see we may feel propelled to work towards change.
“Blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Eternal, your God...” The Torah portion and the calendar remind us of our individual potential to change the world. Let us accept the charge as we enter Elul.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
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