Re'eh
ראהBlessing & Choice
62 translated essays · 64 total
In this parsha
Moshe sets before the people a blessing and a curse, to be proclaimed on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival. He commands that idolatry be uprooted and that offerings be brought only to the place Hashem will choose. He warns against those who entice others to serve false gods, teaches the signs of permitted foods, and details the laws of tithes, the sabbatical release of debts, care for the poor, freeing Hebrew servants, and the three pilgrimage festivals of Pesach, Shavuos and Sukkos.
Themes
- Daily renewal of choice
- Transforming curse into blessing
- The hidden inner point
- Uprooting evil at its root
- Elevating sparks through eating
- Chosenness as children
Must-read teachings
- 1Daily Renewal Of Choice"Re'eh anochi nosein lifneichem hayom" — "See, I set before you today" — blessing and curse (Devarim 11:26). The pasuk opens with "See, I set before you today" both blessing and curse, framing the whole piece around the word "today." "Today…תרמ"א
- 2Refining Bounty Through MaaserOn the verse "You shall surely tithe... and you shall eat before Hashem your God... so that you will learn to fear (Hashem)..." (Devarim 14:22-23). The Sfas Emes opens with the verse commanding maaser, eating before Hashem, and the goal of …תרנ"ב
- 3Elevating Physical Desire Through TorahRegarding the pasuk: "When Hashem will broaden your boundary... and your soul will desire to eat meat, you may eat meat to your soul's full desire" (Devarim 12:20). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that permits eating meat once Hashem bro…תרנ"ו
- 4Freedom Sanctifies Physical PleasureIn the Midrash on the verse, "When Hashem will broaden... your boundary..." (Devarim 12:20). The piece opens by citing the Midrash on the verse in which Hashem promises to broaden Bnei Yisrael's boundary, after which the eating of ordinary …תרמ"ט
- 5Becoming Children Through ShabbosRegarding the verse, "You are children to Hashem your God; you shall not cut yourselves" (Devarim 14:1). The piece opens on the verse calling Bnei Yisrael children of Hashem, immediately followed by the prohibition of "lo tisgodedu." Chazal…תרמ"ה
- 6Transforming Curses Through LoveIn the Midrash it is stated that we do not pause in the reading of the curses, etc., as the pasuk says, "Do not despise the chastisement of Hashem" (Mishlei 3:11) — do not read it as "al timas" (do not despise) but rather as "al timaes" (do…תרמ"ב
- 7Broadening The Inner PointIn the Midrash on the verse "When Hashem will broaden" (Devarim 12:20). The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash on the verse describing Hashem broadening Bnei Yisrael's borders. "A man's gift broadens the way for him" (Mishlei 18:16); "Ha…תרל"א
- 8Torah Straightens Crooked PathsThe Midrash teaches: "Do not be repulsed by His rebuke" (Mishlei 3:11). The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash's reading of the verse in Mishlei, that one should not recoil from Hashem's rebuke. This sets up the question of how curses can be …תרנ"ג
All essays on Re'eh
תרל"א(1870)
- 1Choosing the Path of BlessingThe Chidushei Harim said on the pasuk (Devarim 11:26) “See I give to you today the blessing and the curse.” That established deep into each Jew is the ability to choose only the blessing! (That it is possible not to be influenced by the pul…
- 2Transforming Curses Into BlessingThe Medrash on the first pasuk regarding the blessings and curses, says that one cannot interrupt the reading of the curses, rather they should be read in one go. That one should not be disgusted ( ) by musar (rebuke), one should not make i…
- 3Revealing the Hidden PointIn the Midrash it is taught: "A mitzvah is a lamp" (Mishlei 6:23), and continues, "Your lamp is in My hand and My lamp is in your hand," and so forth. The Midrash on the verse "a mitzvah is a lamp" pictures a mutual giving of light between …
- 4Broadening The Inner PointIn the Midrash on the verse "When Hashem will broaden" (Devarim 12:20). The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash on the verse describing Hashem broadening Bnei Yisrael's borders. "A man's gift broadens the way for him" (Mishlei 18:16); "Ha…
- 5Longing That Bridges Distance"When the place is too far from you... and you shall give the money... and you shall go... to whatever your soul desires..." (Devarim 14:24-26). The Sfas Emes opens with the verses about the second tithe: when the Beis HaMikdash is too far …
- 6Choosing The Good PathIn the Sforno there is a straightforward explanation of Parshas Re'eh, and so forth. The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Sforno's plain reading of Parshas Re'eh, where Hashem sets the blessing and the curse before Bnei Yisrael. For a man of B…
- 7Yearning to Retain ShabbosMy grandfather, my master and teacher of blessed memory, said at the third meal of Shabbos that this is the dimension of "Your departure is difficult for me." The Sfas Emes quotes his grandfather that the third Shabbos meal expresses Hashem…
- 8Re'eh תרל"א 3-8 incompleteThe Midrash (Devarim Rabbah 4:4) HaShem said my candle The Torah is given into your hands, and your candle one’s life is in HaShem’s hand. This is because everything in this world has its life force from the source of life HaShem. However t…
תרל"ב(1871)
- 1Opening Note On ReehWith the help of Hashem. Re'eh — a jumble of matters. This is the opening notation of the piece: an invocation of Hashem's help (B'ezras Hashem) at the head of the parsha of Re'eh, followed by a note that what follows is a collection of ass…
- 2Elevating The Mundane Through WillRegarding the blessing the verse writes "asher" — "that you shall listen" — whereas regarding the curse it writes "if you will not listen," because the curse comes about only through sin, but in and of itself it has no place. The Sfas Emes …
תרל"ג(1872)
- 1Renewed Daily Power Of Choice"See, I set before you... this day" (Devarim 11:26). The pasuk opens Parshas Re'eh by addressing Bnei Yisrael in the singular, placing the choice between blessing and curse before each individual "this day." The meaning is that the power of…
- 2Humility Strengthens Inner VitalityIn the Midrash on the words "Surely keep [My commandments]" (Devarim 4:9, also Shemos 23:13), it is taught: "Guard My lamp in your hand, and your lamp will be in My hand," and so forth. The Sfas Emes opens with a Midrash on the command to "…
- 3Broadening Borders Through Restraint"When Hashem will broaden your border... and you will say, 'I will eat meat...'" (Devarim 12:20). The piece opens with the verse about Hashem broadening Bnei Yisrael's border, leading them to want to eat meat — the springboard for the whole…
- 4Daily Renewal Through Bittul"See..." — and the verse says "today." The opening word of the parsha is paired with the word "today," which the Sfas Emes will now unpack. This refers to every single day, for the Holy One, Blessed is He, renews the act of creation each da…
- 5Elevating Sparks Through Eating"When Hashem expands your borders... in accordance with all the desire of your soul" — the verse comes to teach a lesson. The pasuk speaks of Hashem widening one's borders so that a person may eat according to his soul's desire, and the Sfa…
תרל"ה(1874)
- 1Equanimity Disarms The CurseIn the Midrash it says that we do not pause in the middle of the tochachah, the passage of rebuke, and on the verse "Do not despise (the discipline of Hashem)" the Sages teach that the words of rebuke are like sharp thorns, broken into piec…
- 2Uprooting Evil At Its RootRashi explains on the verse "abaid te'abdun" ("you shall surely destroy") that from here we learn that one who uproots avodah zarah must root out everything that comes after it. When the Torah uses a doubled expression for destroying avodah…
תרל"ז(1876)
- 1Toil Before Spiritual RestIn the Midrash: "And do not speak so haughtily (al tedabru gevohah)" and so forth. The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash's warning against speaking with haughtiness, which he will tie to the danger of spiritual pride. As it is written, "He s…
- 2Eternal Imprint of HolinessOn the verse "You shall surely destroy [all the places where the nations served their gods]" (Devarim 12:2), the Torah continues, "You shall not do so for Hashem your God" (Devarim 12:4). The verse commands the total destruction of every si…
תרל"ח(1877)
- 1Daily Blessing In Our HandsIn the Midrash: "My lamp is in your hand, etc." The Sfas Emes opens with a Midrashic teaching in which Hashem says that His lamp is in the hand of Bnei Yisrael, setting up the theme of the piece. And this connects to the verse "See, I place…
- 2Uprooting Evil Without EndWe also explained the pasuk according to what Rashi writes on "You shall destroy, and afterward you shall utterly destroy" — that one must root out after it. Rashi reads the doubled language of "destroy... utterly destroy" as a command to p…
- 3Hidden Cravings Of AscentConcerning the pasuk, "When Hashem expands [your border]... and your soul shall crave [to eat meat]" (Devarim 12:20). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that frames eating meat as a response to the soul's craving once Hashem broadens Bnei Y…
תרל"ט(1878)
- 1Daily Renewal At CrossroadsThe Midrash brings a parable of an elder sitting at a crossroads, warning: this road begins as level ground but ends in thorns, and so on. For the Torah is compared to a crossroads, as it states in the Gemara (Sotah): the Torah is compared …
- 2Mitzvos That Guard BlessingIn the Midrash it expounds the verse "If you will surely keep [all this mitzvah]" (Devarim 11:22) — "all the mitzvah" refers to Kerias Shema and Shabbos, and so forth. The Midrash on the verse about keeping "all the mitzvah" identifies it w…
תר"מ(1879)
- 1Drawing Down Universal BlessingIn the Midrash on the words "Listen... do not exalt yourselves." The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash's reading of the verse, which warns Bnei Yisrael not to exalt themselves. Do not hold the good back from coming into the world. He re…
- 2Uprooting Evil CompletelyOn the verse, "You shall surely destroy" (Devarim 12:2). The Sfas Emes opens with the verse commanding Bnei Yisrael to thoroughly destroy avodah zarah in Eretz Yisrael. This refers to one who uproots avodah zarah, who must root out after it…
תרמ"א(1880)
- 1Daily Renewal Of Choice"Re'eh anochi nosein lifneichem hayom" — "See, I set before you today" — blessing and curse (Devarim 11:26). The pasuk opens with "See, I set before you today" both blessing and curse, framing the whole piece around the word "today." "Today…
- 2Slaying The Inner EnticerIn the parsha of the mesis (the one who entices a person to idolatry), every person must prepare himself for this mitzvah, for it is a weighty matter that a person be so stirred as to transform himself in an instant into an absolute enemy o…
- 3Achdus Rebuilds The MikdashOn the verse "You shall not do so to Hashem your God" (Devarim 12:4), Rashi explains it as a prohibition against offering korbanos in any place one wishes; and as an alternative explanation, it is a warning to one who would tear out a stone…
תרמ"ב(1881)
- 1Transforming Curses Through LoveIn the Midrash it is stated that we do not pause in the reading of the curses, etc., as the pasuk says, "Do not despise the chastisement of Hashem" (Mishlei 3:11) — do not read it as "al timas" (do not despise) but rather as "al timaes" (do…
- 2Good Intention Drawing Blessing"The blessing, that you shall hear," and regarding the curse it is written, "if (you shall not hear)" (Devarim 11:27-28). The Sfas Emes notes a difference in the pesukim's wording: by the blessing the Torah says "that you shall hear," while…
תרמ"ג(1882)
תרמ"ד(1883)
- 1Daily Renewal Through ListeningIn the Midrash: "Listen... do not be haughty..." (Tehillim 75:6). The Sfas Emes opens with a Midrash on a verse in Tehillim that pairs "listen" with a warning against haughtiness, setting up the theme of the piece. For behold, the wicked sa…
- 2Seeking the Shechinah Through YearningOn the pasuk "You shall seek out His dwelling place" (Devarim 12:5), The Sfas Emes opens with the verse commanding Bnei Yisrael to seek out the place where Hashem chooses to rest His presence. this applies even in this present time of galus…
תרמ"ה(1884)
תרמ"ו(1885)
- 1Goodness as Essential NatureRegarding the blessing it is written, "that you shall hearken" (Devarim 11:27), whereas regarding the opposite it is written "if" (Devarim 11:28). The Torah phrases the blessing as a certainty ("that you shall hearken") but the curse with t…
- 2Mitzvah Eating Draws HolinessOn the verse, "You shall surely tithe... and you shall eat before Hashem your God... so that you may learn to fear (Hashem)" (Devarim 14:22-23). The Sfas Emes opens with the Torah's verse linking the tithe, eating before Hashem, and learnin…
תרמ"ז(1886)
- 1Binding Blessing To MitzvosIn the Midrash: What is written just before this? "You shall surely guard" (the mitzvos). The Sfas Emes opens by citing the Midrash, which links our verse to the preceding command "You shall surely guard" the mitzvos. What is "the entire mi…
- 2Rebuke Transformed Into BlessingThe Midrash teaches: "Do not be repelled by His rebuke" (Mishlei 3:11), and accordingly we do not pause in the middle of reading the curses. The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash that links the law against pausing during the reading of the c…
תרמ"ח(1887)
תרמ"ט(1888)
תרנ"ב(1891)
תרנ"ג(1892)
- 1Torah Straightens Crooked PathsThe Midrash teaches: "Do not be repulsed by His rebuke" (Mishlei 3:11). The Sfas Emes opens with the Midrash's reading of the verse in Mishlei, that one should not recoil from Hashem's rebuke. This sets up the question of how curses can be …
- 2Neshamah Reveals Our SonshipRegarding the pasuk "You are children [to Hashem your God]" (Devarim 14:1), and "you shall not make a bald patch between your eyes for the dead" (Devarim 14:1). The Sfas Emes opens with the two verses that sit side by side: Bnei Yisrael are…
תרנ"ד(1893)
- 1Daily Blessing Through TorahRegarding the pasuk, "See, I (Anochi) give before you today a blessing" (Devarim 11:26). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in which Hashem places a blessing before Bnei Yisrael, focusing on the unusual word "Anochi." The word "Anochi" allu…
- 2Chastisement as Hidden BlessingFurthermore, the Midrash teaches that we do not pause in the middle of the curses when reading them in the Torah, because it is written, "My son, do not despise the chastisement of Hashem" (Mishlei 3:11). When the curses of the Tochachah ar…
- 3Refining Body Reveals NeshamahRegarding the verse, "You are children to Hashem your God" (Devarim 14:1). The Sfas Emes opens with the verse in which Hashem calls Bnei Yisrael His children, the foundation for the entire piece. There is a dispute in a braisa: Rabbi Meir s…
- 4Sanctifying Food Through TithingOn the pasuk "Aser te'aser — You shall surely tithe... and you shall eat before Hashem your God... so that you may learn to fear..." (Devarim 14:22-23). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk of tithing, which culminates in eating before Hashem…
תרנ"ו(1895)
- 1Hearing As Vessel For Blessing"The blessing, if you will hearken" (Devarim 11:27). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that ties the blessing to hearkening, the verb 'tishme'u,' which sets the theme that blessing flows through hearing. Hearing is the vessel that holds th…
- 2Elevating Physical Desire Through TorahRegarding the pasuk: "When Hashem will broaden your boundary... and your soul will desire to eat meat, you may eat meat to your soul's full desire" (Devarim 12:20). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk that permits eating meat once Hashem bro…
- 3Three Levels Of ChosennessOn the pasuk, "You are children to Hashem your God" (Devarim 14:1), and "For you are a holy people" (Devarim 14:2), and "Hashem has chosen you to be His treasured people." The Sfas Emes opens with three phrases the Torah uses to describe Bn…
תרנ"ז(1896)
- 1Curses Rooted In TorahThe Midrash expounds on the verse, "The mussar of Hashem, my son, do not despise" (Mishlei 3:11). The piece opens with the Midrash's teaching on the verse that one must not despise the chastisement of Hashem, framing suffering as something …
- 2Children Beyond Reward And PunishmentIn the Midrash Tanchuma there is a parable of a king who acquired a servant for himself, and stipulated: 'If you do my will, I will feed you and give you drink, and if you do not do my will, I will chastise you.' The servant did more than w…
- 3Torah as Source of BlessingNow it is written, "the blessing, that you shall listen" (Devarim 11:27), and my saintly father-in-law, of blessed memory, said that regarding Shabbos, of which it is written, "And [Hashem] blessed... the seventh day" (Bereishis 2:3) — sure…
תרנ"ח(1897)
תרנ"ט(1898)
- 1Torah Illuminating Loving SufferingIn the Midrash it is taught that one does not interrupt in the midst of the curses, as it says, "My son, do not despise the chastisement of Hashem" (Mishlei 3:11) — it is not for your harm that I have set before you blessings and curses, bu…
- 2Parting Gift After ServiceOn the verse, "You shall surely bestow a gift upon him... and you shall remember that you were a slave..." (Devarim 15:14-15). The Sfas Emes opens with the Torah's command to give a parting gift to a freed servant, coupled with the reminder…
תרס"א(1900)
- 1Fear Through Shabbos JoyOn the verse, "so that you will learn to fear Hashem" (Devarim 14:23). The Sfas Emes opens with the pasuk in Re'eh stating that the purpose of the mitzvah of maaser is to learn to fear Hashem. I have already written in the name of my grandf…
- 2Torah Reveals Hidden FreedomThe parsha of "Aser te'aser" (You shall surely tithe) is placed next to the parsha of forbidden foods, for just as those impure species cause the soul of the one who eats them to become coarsened and dulled, and they are therefore called "f…
- 3Three Dimensions Of ChosennessRegarding the verses, "You are children [to Hashem your God]" (Devarim 14:1), and "you are a holy nation" (Devarim 14:2), and "and Hashem has chosen you" (Devarim 14:2). The Sfas Emes opens by citing three phrases from these verses in Re'eh…