Re'eh 2020

1In last week’s Parsha the Torah described the positive results from keeping the Mitzvot and the negative consequences from failure to do so. This week’s Parsha initially expands on the theme and assigns the terms “Blessing” and “Curse” to keeping or violating G-d’s instructions. “See I put before you today Blessing and Curse”. The importance of these terms becomes apparent with the further instruction to “Place the Blessings on Mt Gerizim and the Curses on Mt Eval”. Further details surrounding the Blessings and Curses are to be covered in more detail in Parshat Ki Tavo. It may be argued that it will be the first commandment upon the Jewish people upon entering the land of Israel. As such it is important to understand what Moshe wanted to accomplish with the event. What is point of putting blessings and curses upon mountains? How does the instruction to do so fit into the narrative of our Parsha? If the ceremony is to be performed after the people enter the land how does Moshe describe it as “Today”? What is meant by the term “Re-eh” or “See”? It is noteworthy that the Torah describes the precise location of the mountains in great detail;”They (the mountains) are in other side of the Jordan in the direction of the sunset (west of the river in Israel proper), in the land of the Canaanites who live in the “Aravah” (plains or southern portion of the land) opposite Gilgal next to Elonei Moreh.

2In the Chumash important or momentous events are often associated with mountains. Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat. The burning bush and subsequent giving of the torah were on Mount Sinai. During the Amalek battle Moshe sat on a mountain. Lot escaped from Sodom to a mountain. A mountain was the setting for the Akeidat Yitzchak, the binding of Isaac. There in Parshat Vayerah Abraham named the mountain “G-d will see as it is said today G-d will be seen”. The mountain is a place for seeing G-d and being seen by Him. This prediction will be accomplished during the pilgrimage festivals. “Three times each year you shall be seen in the place that G-d chooses” (Parshat R-eh ch 16 v 16). A mountain is a place of G-d’s revelation. It is a place to go to see G-d and be seen by Him. It can change because it is written “in the place that G-d chooses” and He sometime chooses one place over another, hence the detailed description of the exact location.

3The blessings and curses in Ki Tavo are highly public voluntary acceptances of the consequences of being G-d’s people. It is a ‘Naaseh Ve Nishmah”( We will do and we will hear) with consequences. The consequences will be further elaborated in Ki Tavo in great detail. The rest of Parshat Re-eh along with the next two Parshiyot contains those commandments associated most closely with living in the land of Israel. Here at the outset Moshe has described the upcoming entry into the land of Israel as one of either great blessing or a great curse. Which it will be is up to the Jewish people. On the two mountains the Jewish people will accept this in G-d’s presence. It is there that the people accept that Israel can be a great blessing or Heaven forbid a curse.

4Shabbat Shalom