From the Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Zt”l
This week's Torah portion, Re'ei, touches upon numerous subjects, including the warning not to be involved with idolatrous practices, a list of kosher animals and non-kosher birds, the laws of tithes and a brief discussion of the three Pilgrimage Festivals.
The portion opens with the words: "See [re'ei], I set before you." G-d commanded Moses to convey to the Jewish people that they must consider and reflect on the holy words of Torah until they can actually "see" how G-d Himself takes care of each and every individual, great and small. G-d abandons all His other affairs, as it were, to provide every Jew with all his needs, "from His full, open, holy and broad hand."
It is not enough for a Jew to believe this on faith or understand it as an intellectual principle. A Jew must be able to "see" Divine Providence in the same way he can perceive a physical object with his fleshly eyes.
This, in fact, is the practical directive to be derived from this week's Torah reading, whose name "Re'ei" means "See": Everything in Torah that a Jew learns should be "seen" rather than merely accepted or believed. In other words, a person should be so confident and sure of what he has learned that it is as if he can actually see it on the physical level.
This level of surety applies at all times and in all circumstances, whether it is "daytime" or "nighttime" in either the literal or symbolic sense. A Jew must always strive to see the G-dliness and holiness in all his actions.
Even before drinking a simple glass of water we make the blessing "Shehakol -Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the world, that everything came into being with His word." We address G-d directly, recognizing that everything in the world was created and exists only because of His will.
By accustoming ourselves to always look for G-d's hand in everything around us, we will merit to "see" the fulfillment of the verse at the end of the Torah portion: "Three times a year shall all your males be seen before the L-rd your G-d in the place which He shall choose." Our daily prayers will be answered, "May the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days," and "May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy," with the coming of Moshiach and the Final Redemption.
Reprinted from the Parashat Re’eh 5761/2001 edition of L’Chaim, a publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in Brooklyn. Adapted from the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on 20 and 21 Menachem Av 5749, and 22 Menachem Av 5750.
