Parashat R’eih Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17

Dear Friends,

I love the title of this week’s Torah portion: R’eih (Now See Here). Jewish Tradition teaches that there are four levels of meaning in each section of the Torah. They span the range from the “simple” plain meaning of the text, to the meanings that are present as a hint, to hidden mystical ideas that may even be too dangerous to teach to anyone (and have to be discovered and rediscovered in each generation). Here, we are confronted with a single word, seemingly simple in its meaning, asking us to see. Often it is a different sense which is invoked in the Torah, namely, hearing. We are usually told to listen, but when the Torah changes modalities it should awaken us to the fact that something special is going on.

In this case, we are dealing with blessing and curse, so perhaps vision is exactly the sense that we should be using. Here we are being given guidance along the path of life in the starkest of terms, and ultimately the contrast will be stunning. It was not enough for the Torah to tell us that if we are good (i.e. obey the commandments) we will be rewarded, and if we are not good, we are going to be severely punished. We are going to have visual aides.

There are two mountains across from each other, Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and they are in the Land of Israel. They are close to each other, but could not have been more different. Mount Ebal was rocky and barren. To look upon it was to see devastation. No trees grew there, and if there were animals present, they would have to struggle to find food. On the other hand, Mount Gerizim was lush and green, abundant with life. Food was easily at hand, and shelter from the sun was to be found in the shade of its forests.

Monuments were to be prepared, one with the curse on it, and one with the blessing on it. Not surprisingly, the curse was to be placed on top of Mount Ebal, and the blessing on top of Mount Gerizim. Ultimately, the people were to pass through the gap between these two symbols of abundance and life, and deprivation and death. A physical and visual reminder of blessing and curse in life. And, a physical reminder of how choices we make in life affect the course of our life. The two mountains were a stark image of what was to face the Children of Israel in their new home, just in case the words of warning in the Torah were not enough to guide them. They were going to see a symbolic representation of consequences. The mountains themselves, as well as the monuments on them, were going to be ever present reminders to do justice, practice mercy and pursue peace.

All of this also shows the Torah’s ancient understanding of human nature. If words were enough, television would not have been invented or become so ubiquitous, and we would still be huddled around radios for news and entertainment. We are visual creatures and respond to images. Even in imagination, we try to visualize the future. The images we create in our minds can shape our decisions and alter our responses to realities we face.

So this Shabbat, let us turn our vision to a wooded glen, a blue ocean vista, a brilliant orange sunset, a joyful smile or a child’s laughter. And may these visions lead us to at least a moment of peace and tranquility.

Shabbat of Shalom,
Rabbi Marv
rabbischwab@bethelsp.org