By Rabbi Ariel J Friedlander

Our weekly portion begins with the powerful message from God:

“Re’eh, See, this day I set before you blessing and curse”[1].

The text explains the actions that will lead to positive and negative results in the contemporary biblical context, but what relevance is there to the world with which we must deal right now?

It is made perfectly clear to us that we always have the freedom to choose how we act, in every situation, and that there will be consequences for each choice we make. The purpose of the Torah, and of the words we read on Shabbat, is to provide a foundation that will support us in making the best choices we can. We then have the responsibility to act. Although we may need to discuss our options, what counts is what we do. That is the way that relationships founder or bloom.

As I write, the door is possibly ajar for the return of our hostages to their ancestral land, the land of Israel. Decisions must be made, and actions must be taken. At this point in the final book of the Chumash, the Children of Israel are just the other side of the river, about to enter the land for the very first time. Moses, like any coach prepping their team before the match begins, is reminding those who will be out on the field about the essence of their game plan. However, once they cross that river, it will be up to the players to see what is happening and choose accordingly. It is a watershed moment. The opportunity is certainly there. What will they decide to do?

Of course, such decisions are never made in a vacuum. There are alternative perspectives all around, and the text of Re’eh spends almost half a chapter warning us against falling under the influence of those nearby who follow a different god or gods[2]. According to the text, this influence is an insidious force that should be fought off with all our defences, although nowadays we take the instruction to put it to death metaphorically rather than literally, as we shape our spiritual selves.

How then may we counter the peer pressure and cancel culture we experience today within and without the Jewish world? Rabbi Judith Edelson-Green writes, “(Seeing) … it’s about opening your spiritual eyes to the blessings of life, and not “cursing” yourself with a focus on the material[3]”. She asks us to see what is possible for our people, and not to prioritise what may only be of personal benefit. Looking at the world around us, it is so frustrating to feel powerless in matters of global and national importance. The best-case scenario is that leaders will make choices to benefit their communities rather than themselves. Whether you believe they are, or are not doing so, it is unlikely your choices will change their current views. However, we are still committed to considering what options we do have, knowing that they will affect all our relationships each moment that we breathe.

This is work that takes a lifetime to do, but that does not absolve us of the necessity to act during that process. The key is to know on what our own values are based, and trust that foundation. From there, we find the strength we need to hold fast, and the space in which to appreciate the blessings that surround us.

Nu, I cannot speak for anyone but myself. The month of Elul begins next week, and it feels like this portion is prepping me for the cheshbon nefesh, the auditing of my soul, as the days of Selichot lead us into a new year. Re’eh is asking me, asking us, to identify the values that are at our core. What do we need to learn, maintain, and hold onto in order to heal our selves, and our world? This Shabbat, let us take a moment to look at these questions. Who knows which blessings we might see?!

—

[1] Deuteronomy 11.26

[2] Deut. 13:1-9

[3] On Re’eh for the World Union of Progressive Judaism

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