This Week’s Torah Portion: R’eih – רְאֵה (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17)
“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse” (Deuteronomy 11:26 )
We are blessed with the ability to know what is a blessing and what is a curse, what is good and what is bad, what is moral and what is wrong, what is just and what is not. We are blessed with the ability to choose to do the right thing.
As we are entering the month of Elul, the last month of the Hebrew year, and preparing ourselves for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are also examining our actions in the past year, and determining how to make sure we chose right and chose the blessings.
Parsha R’eih – רְאֵה Torah Summary:
God places both blessing and curse before the Israelites. They are taught that blessing will come through the observance of God’s laws. (11:26–32)
Moses’ third discourse includes laws about worship in a central place (12:1–28); injunctions against idolatry (12:29–13:19) and self-mutilation (14:1–2); dietary rules (14:3–21); and laws about tithes (14:22–25), debt remission (15:1–11), the release and treatment of Hebrew slaves (15:12–18), and firstlings (15:19–23).
Moses reviews the correct sacrifices to be offered during the Pilgrim Festivals—Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot. (16:1-17) R’eih – רְאֵה