פרשת ראה
22 August 2025
At the opening of the parasha, the Torah says
“רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה” (Devarim 11:26).
The commentators ask: why does it say "ראה" in singular, but later "לפניכם" in plural?
The message is twofold:
On the one hand, responsibility is personal – "ראה": each individual must see for themselves and choose their own path. One cannot place this choice on others.
On the other hand, each person’s decision influences the community – "לפניכם": a whole society is built from the small choices of each individual.
Another point: the Torah emphasizes “היום”. Every single day we are given the opportunity to choose anew. It is not enough to rely on yesterday’s choice – each morning we must decide again which path we will take.
Life Lesson
At times we feel that life just flows on its own, without conscious decision-making. But the Torah reminds us that every step – big or small – is a renewed choice between "ברכה" and "קללה".
When we choose wisely, we not only build ourselves but also create a positive influence on those around us.