Subjective Seeing

Two questions jump out when reading the first verse of this week’s Parsha, Reeh (11:26):

רְאֵ֗ה אָֽנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה: “See, how I set before you today a blessing (and a curse).”

The first question emerges from the first word of the pasuk. If someone hands me a gift wrapped in paper and tied with ribbon, is it really necessary for the gift giver to say “See, how I have given you a gift”? Of course not! I will understand based on the context and the wrapping paper that a gift is being given to me, without the need for the giver to get my attention by saying “Hey, See!” The second question is based on an inconsistency in the Hebrew grammar of this pasuk. The first Hebrew word רְאֵ֗ה (“see) is written in the singular, while the word לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם (“before you”) is written in the plural.

The answers to both questions provide insight and reminders about the blessings in our lives. Rabbi Frand notes that the verse begins with the word “See” because oftentimes we need to look for our blessings, notice our blessings, and be reminded of our blessings. Sometimes blessings are not so obvious, and we need to see/look for them in order to perceive them. Sometimes we don’t see the blessings in our lives because we take them for granted. It can be difficult to identify them when we live within a landscape full of blessings. Therefore Hashem reminds us to “see” the blessings He has given us.

Regarding the grammatical inconsistency, the Kotzker Rebbe noted that while blessings can be given collectively to many people, each individual will perceive the blessing in a unique manner based on their personality and outlook. Blessings can be universal, and therefore the singular form of “See” is appropriate. However those blessings will be perceived differently by different people, and therefore the word “before you” is written in the plural form.

The lessons for us are 1) Keep our eyes open for the blessings in our lives and 2) Appreciate that people see and experience the world differently- which is both a challenge and an opportunity.

We are in the midst of reading the 7 Haftarot of Consolation on the Shabbatot that take us from Tisha Bav to Rosh Hashanah. The Talmud teaches (Taanit 30b) כׇּל הַמִּתְאַבֵּל עַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם — זוֹכֶה וְרוֹאֶה בְּשִׂמְחָתָהּ, “Whoever mourns for Jerusalem will merit and see her future joy”. Shouldn’t the blessing be that a person who properly mourns Jerusalem’s destruction will merit to see her rebuilding? Rav Kook answered that not everyone will appreciate the blessing of Jerusalem’s rebuilding in the same way. Some might focus on the challenges, while others might take the blessing for granted. The Talmud assures us that if we take the time and have the correct perspective we will fully appreciate the blessings of Jerusalem, and that proper perspective will bring with it tremendous joy. What is true about the blessings of Jerusalem are true about all of the blessings in our lives. We will experience true joy when we take a moment to see our blessings and to fully appreciate their pervasiveness and their impact.