רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃
When paying attention to the grammar in this pasuk, you will notice something strange. Hashem tells the Jewish people “See (Re’eh) I am setting before you, on this day, blessings and curses.” The word Re’eh, to see, is a verb, but written in singular form. But then Hashem says (see) “before you,” which is in plural. Why the discrepancy? Perhaps a more basic question is why the need for the word Re’eh altogether? If you give someone a present, is it necessary to tell him, “look, I am giving you a present?” Isn’t that self evident?
Rabbi Frand in his book on the Parasha (volume 1) suggests an insightful perspective. He says that blessings are not always so obvious. We have to make an effort to see the blessings in our lives, to really perceive their depth. If we don’t look carefully, we can easily overlook the blessings we have been given. So Hashem is reminding us to “see” the blessings He has bestowed upon us. This should help us realize that our lives are full of blessings. Life is a blessing, our family is a blessing no matter how big or how small it is. We have so much that we often take things for granted.
The Kotzker Rebbe says that while one can give out blessings to multiple people at once, each individual will perceive it differently, in his own unique way. Each person’s outlook and personality impact how he views the blessing. So the lesson of this pasuk is that while blessings can be universal, the perception of those blessings is always individual. Hashem uses plural of “before you” in the plural to teach us that while that blessing might have been universal, offered to many, He uses the singular “see” to teach us that how we perceive the blessings is always individual.
Let us learn this lesson and constantly look to “see” the blessings in our lives. Let us not overlook them, not take them for granted, and not fail to thank Hashem on a daily basis for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us.
When paying attention to the grammar in this pasuk, you will notice something strange. Hashem tells the Jewish people “See (Re’eh) I am setting before you, on this day, blessings and curses.” The word Re’eh, to see, is a verb, but written in singular form. But then Hashem says (see) “before you,” which is in plural. Why the discrepancy? Perhaps a more basic question is why the need for the word Re’eh altogether? If you give someone a present, is it necessary to tell him, “look, I am giving you a present?” Isn’t that self evident?
Rabbi Frand in his book on the Parasha (volume 1) suggests an insightful perspective. He says that blessings are not always so obvious. We have to make an effort to see the blessings in our lives, to really perceive their depth. If we don’t look carefully, we can easily overlook the blessings we have been given. So Hashem is reminding us to “see” the blessings He has bestowed upon us. This should help us realize that our lives are full of blessings. Life is a blessing, our family is a blessing no matter how big or how small it is. We have so much that we often take things for granted.
The Kotzker Rebbe says that while one can give out blessings to multiple people at once, each individual will perceive it differently, in his own unique way. Each person’s outlook and personality impact how he views the blessing. So the lesson of this pasuk is that while blessings can be universal, the perception of those blessings is always individual. Hashem uses plural of “before you” in the plural to teach us that while that blessing might have been universal, offered to many, He uses the singular “see” to teach us that how we perceive the blessings is always individual.
Let us learn this lesson and constantly look to “see” the blessings in our lives. Let us not overlook them, not take them for granted, and not fail to thank Hashem on a daily basis for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us.
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