By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
Look for the “I” in the words happy, joy, glad, cheerful, and pleased and you obviously won’t find it. In this week’s Torah reading, we learn an important insight into this simple observation. There is a recurring theme in Re’eh regarding simcha, meaning happy or joyful. The Hebrew root of the word is sin, mem, chet, which we find one time in each of the first four chapters of the Torah, and 12 times in the Book of Deuteronomy, seven of which are in this week’s reading – and in each of these, this joy is described as related to “We.” Seems simcha is important to us this week as we usher in the season of “cheshbon hanefesh,” when we begin accounting for our souls, and welcome the new month of Elul this Shabbat. We are told to rejoice as we collectively bring numerous offerings, voluntary and mandatory, to the Temple. Indeed, the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, emphasized that even in its lowest form, simcha begins in holiness and is ultimately a gift from Hashem.
The parasha suggests a path to true simcha includes that we be together, to share what we have with others less fortunate, to nourish ourselves and others with food and drink, and to be grateful for the blessings we enjoy, acknowledging that these blessings come from Hashem. In Psalm 34, we read, “Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many, Hashem will save him from them all…” Yes, even the righteous face misfortune. In Psalm 37 we read, “With You is the fountain of life; by Your light do we see light.” Our closeness to Him brings profound rewards.
We see in the parasha this passage which brings to light four types of people that we are to help feel happiness. “Hashem, your G-d, will have blessed you. You shall rejoice before Hashem, your G-d – you, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maidservant, the Levite who is in your cities, the convert, the orphan and the widow who are among you – in the place where Hashem, your G-d, will choose to rest his Name there.” Rashi comments that the Levite, the convert, the orphan and the widow, are considered by Hashem to be extremely vulnerable in society and are in need of our special caring, love and assistance. Rashi explains that Hashem is saying, “If you will make Mine (my four) happy, I will make yours (your four) happy.” We see a deeper insight into the mitzvah of creating happiness for others, for ourselves and for those we love, through acts of kindness and bringing others closer to Hashem.
Happiness comes when we leave the “I” and enter the “We.” There is giving and no taking. “I” is found in “Illness,” while “We” is found in “Wellness.” Is the search for those in our lives who are isolated, ill, or in need, the path to our own personal happiness? The parasha shows us that true happiness depends not on our own accomplishments, but rather on our concern for others. It’s clear that the parasha teaches us that happiness comes from giving to others and sharing with them.
As we face Elul, it’s a time to ask ourselves how we’ve done following our own ways, and how it would be different, better, following cheerfully, His ways. We can choose, with free will, to do our will or we can choose, with free will, to do His will. Each carries its own consequences. Hashem has given us the facility to do what is right as individuals and as representatives of our Jewish community.
This parsha begins with a focus on this key choice. We hear Moshe Rabbeinu saying: “Re’ei a’nochi no’sein lif’nei’chem ha’yom bracha u’klalla”. “See. I present before you today a blessing and a curse …” The Sfas Emes notes that implicit in this pasuk is that HaShem has endowed us with “bechira chofshis” — free will — to choose between good and evil.
Is your glass half empty, half filled, or as mine is, filled with 6 ounces of water? Yes, “the link is what you think,” and this week’s Torah reading underscores this idea with its words, “See, this day I set before you a blessing and a curse…” Couldn’t this pasuk have begun, “This day I set before you blessing and curse…?” Why begin with “See?”
Perhaps the word “See” is essential to teach us to the importance of recognizing that we have choice as to what and how we see ourselves, others, and our lives. Do we see life as half-filled or half empty? When we have alert minds and receptive hearts, our eyes are free to recognize the blessings in our lives…and the curses.
With our eyes trained on the role that Hashem plays in our lives, we are more likely to see a better path forward, making choices that lead to health and wellbeing, to living better lives. We can see with optimism or with pessimism. Re’eh tells us we can choose to live from despair or from hope. Viktor Frankl’s observation is clearly anchored in this Torah reading, when he says, “that everything can be taken from a person but one thing, to choose one’s attitude and to choose one’s own way.”
The parasha empowers us to see and to use our sight – not to lose sight – to create hope from despair, to reframe our thinking to see opportunity, to glean a positive message, to find light in darkness. Imagine what you add not only to your life, but to the world, in “seeing” goodness and blessings as we are taught to see in the parasha.
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai emphasizes this in Pirke Avot, (2:13), when he points his disciples in the direction of “seeing” and discovering for themselves what is the good path, a generous eye, a good colleague, a good neighbor, foresight, and a generous heart. What we see, we find. In the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, “In our world, everything is a mixture of good and bad. Human beings must choose which aspects they will emphasize, contemplate, and pursue…” Further, we learn in Tamid 32a, in the Talmud, “Who is wise? One who sees the future.” When we use our mind’s eye to see and to visualize clearly, we can wisely choose to see the many blessings Hashem “set before” us in our lives daily. They are there. See them?
From seeing what you eat, the laws of kashrut, to choosing to not worship “other gods,” to caring for those in need, to filling our time with what is sacred and meaningful, the parasha offers us a toolkit for happiness at a time we are assessing our past year’s behaviors. With the right sight, we can all grow in our holiness through seeing the good that comes from strengthening our relationship with Hashem through Torah. Your blessings are in front of you…see them?
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com