Insights on the Blessing and the Curse
Ba'er Heitev | August 22, 2025
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Insights on the Blessing and the Curse

Ba'er Heitev | December 10, 2025

ו"כפ א"י קרפ םירבד :הָלָלְקוּ הָכָרְבּ םוֹיַּה םֶכיֵנְפִל ןֵתֹנ יִכֹנָא הֵאְר

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse.

“Hayom – Today", Is a hint to Shabbos, (see Ohr HaChaim Hakodosh, Parshas Voeschanan – Possuk Viyodatoh Hayom). Since the Brochoh (Blessing) of Hashem Yisborach itself is steady and forever. But the Neshomoh (soul) which has come down to this world is not able to attain the Brochoh steadily, since it is sunken in a worldly human body and its lusts. But on Shabbos Kodesh, when a person is crowned with a Neshomoh Yiseiroh, (additional soul) that has not been materialized in humanly lusts, it can attain the Brochoh. It can also attain the Brochoh for all the days of the week, that it should last forever. And that is the intention "That I give you - on Shabbos Kodesh", "That you shall listen", meaning you shall listen, and it should stay by you engraved forever.

Sefer Divrei Shmuel - Slonim

ו "כפ א"יפ :הָלָלְקוּ הָכָרְבּ םוֹיַּה םֶכיֵנְפִל ןֵתֹנ יִכֹנָא הֵאְר

The word שמע - ‘listen’ - is not used, but rather the Torah uses the word ראה - ‘see’. One need not have blind faith to understand and believe. Rather, one can see with one’s own eyes, and feel with one’s own hands the blessings given by Hashem for obeying, and the curses if we do not obey the laws of the Torah. One does not need to rely on “rumor evidence”. Look around what happens in the world, and you will see.

Sefer Menachem Tzion

ו "כפ א"יפ :םֶכיֵנְפִל ןֵתֹנ יִכֹנָא הֵאְר

"Re'ey Anochi Noisein Lifneichem", see that I have given before you (11:26). All the Meforshim ask, why does the Possuk start in the singular and end in the plural? The Kotzker Rebbe answers as follows. The Possuk refers to two experiences of the Torah. "Noisein", the giving of the Torah and "Re'ey", the seeing and understanding. When it comes to the giving of the Torah, it was given to everyone in Klall Yisroel together. It belongs to all of us and we are all responsible to learn it. However, when it comes to the actual learning, each person is an individual. Each person must plumb the depths with all the talents bestowed on him. He cannot satisfy himself with a level of knowledge of the average man. "Visein Chelkeinu BiSorosechoh", each person has his own Cheilek that he is responsible for.

ו"כפ א"י קרפ םירבד :הָלָלְקוּ הָכָרְבּ םוֹיַּה םֶכיֵנְפִל ןֵתֹנ יִכֹנָא הֵאְר

See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse.

“Hayom – Today", Is a hint to Shabbos, (see Ohr HaChaim Hakodosh, Parshas Voeschanan – Possuk Viyodatoh Hayom). Since the Brochoh (Blessing) of Hashem Yisborach itself is steady and forever. But the Neshomoh (soul) which has come down to this world is not able to attain the Brochoh steadily, since it is sunken in a worldly human body and its lusts. But on Shabbos Kodesh, when a person is crowned with a Neshomoh Yiseiroh, (additional soul) that has not been materialized in humanly lusts, it can attain the Brochoh. It can also attain the Brochoh for all the days of the week, that it should last forever. And that is the intention "That I give you - on Shabbos Kodesh", "That you shall listen", meaning you shall listen, and it should stay by you engraved forever.

Sefer Divrei Shmuel - Slonim

ו "כפ א"יפ :הָלָלְקוּ הָכָרְבּ םוֹיַּה םֶכיֵנְפִל ןֵתֹנ יִכֹנָא הֵאְר

The word שמע - ‘listen’ - is not used, but rather the Torah uses the word ראה - ‘see’. One need not have blind faith to understand and believe. Rather, one can see with one’s own eyes, and feel with one’s own hands the blessings given by Hashem for obeying, and the curses if we do not obey the laws of the Torah. One does not need to rely on “rumor evidence”. Look around what happens in the world, and you will see.

Sefer Menachem Tzion

ו "כפ א"יפ :םֶכיֵנְפִל ןֵתֹנ יִכֹנָא הֵאְר

"Re'ey Anochi Noisein Lifneichem", see that I have given before you (11:26). All the Meforshim ask, why does the Possuk start in the singular and end in the plural? The Kotzker Rebbe answers as follows. The Possuk refers to two experiences of the Torah. "Noisein", the giving of the Torah and "Re'ey", the seeing and understanding. When it comes to the giving of the Torah, it was given to everyone in Klall Yisroel together. It belongs to all of us and we are all responsible to learn it. However, when it comes to the actual learning, each person is an individual. Each person must plumb the depths with all the talents bestowed on him. He cannot satisfy himself with a level of knowledge of the average man. "Visein Chelkeinu BiSorosechoh", each person has his own Cheilek that he is responsible for.

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