Re'eh
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the first pasuk in this week's parsha, Re'eh Anochi Nosein Lifneichem Hayom Brachah U'Klalah. Behold I am presenting to you today a blessing or a curse. The Sfas Emes teaches that Hashem performs a special chesed with Clal Yisrael and gives them an opportunity to choose again every day whether to do good or bad. The typical way of a sinner is to continue in his ways, as Chazal teach in the Medrash Rabbah on Bereishis (67,8), Ha'Resha'im Birshus Libam, the wicked are controlled by their hearts and lose their ability to choose anew their actions. The Gemara in Yoma 86B teaches that one who repeatedly sins ultimately considers his actions as permissible. Therefore, the ability to constantly reconsider and make new choices is a chesed from Hashem.
This new choice which occurs daily, Hayom, is part of the ongoing process of creation, as we say in the davening, Hamechadesh B'Tuvo B'Chol Yom Tamid Ma'aseh Bereishis. As part of the process of renewal which Hashem brings to the world every day, we are given an ability to reconsider our actions and choose again.
The Sfas Emes brings in the name of the Chidushei HaRim that the third meal on Shabbos is like the festival of Shemini Atzeret. Chazal teach, and Rashi brings their words at the end of parshat Pinchas that the reason for this Chag is that Gd says to Bnei Yisrael, Kasheh Alai Peraidaschem, your departure is difficult for me, please stay another day. Similarly on Shabbos, we have a sense at the end of Shabbos of its imminent departure and we have Shalosh Seudos and try to keep the Shabbos with us as long as we can.
On Friday night we say in the davening the pasukim from parshat Ki Tisa (Chapter 31, Pasukim 16-17) which begin with the words V'Shamru Bnei Yisrael es HaShabbos and end with the word Vayinafash, and He rested. Chazal teach in the Gemara in Beitzah 16A on the word Vayinafash, Voy Avdah Nefesh. This is an expression of the woe one feels after Shabbos when he loses his Neshamah Yeseirah. We feel despair when Motzei Shabbos arrives and we lose that extra soul that we had on Shabbos.
The Ba'al Shem Tov asks why we say V'Shamru on Friday night if it includes a note of despair over losing our Neshamah Yeseirah. Surely this is what we feel when Shabbos goes out, not when it comes in.
He answers that if we are already aware when Shabbos comes in of the temporary nature of the Neshamah Yeseirah, then we will make a special effort to cling to it as much as possible during Shabbos. If we consider the loss we will experience on Motzei Shabbos as soon as Shabbos comes in, we are more likely to make the most of that special Kedusha we have on Shabbos.
The Ramban teaches on the pasuk (Shmos, Chapter 20, Pasuk 7), Zachor es Yom HaShabbos Lekadsho that we are commanded to remember the upcoming Shabbos and anticipate it during the week prior to Shabbos. The Sfas Emes adds that this remembering needs to relate to the previous Shabbos as well. Remember the holiness of the Shabbos you experienced just last week. And the more one is able to long for the Neshamah Yeseirah of the previous Shabbos, the more likely he will be to greet the new Shabbos with joy and excitement.
We read in last week's parsha the second parsha of Keriyas Shema. In the first pasuk in the parsha we read (Chapter 11, Pasuk 13), Asher Anochi Metzaveh Eschem Hayom, the commandments I command you today. Rashi comments, Sheyihyu Chadashim Aleichem Ke'Ilu Shematem Bo Bayom, they should be new to you as if you received them today. We are obligated to consider the mitzvoth as new and exciting as if we received them today.
This is the quid pro quo we need to maintain with Hashem. We need to consider the mitzvoth with anticipation and excitement. Even though the Torah was given to our ancestors thousands of years ago, we need to consider the giving of the Torah as a daily event. This is line with our connection to Shabbos; we need to think about the holiness of Shabbos and the closeness we feel on Shabbos on a daily basis in order to make the most of our Shabbos experience every week. And in return for feeling the freshness and excitement for Torah and mitzvoth on a daily basis, Hashem provides for us a freshness and excitement of creation and choice on a daily basis. When we feel renewed every day, we don’t get stuck in a routine of bad habits and we reconsider our actions on a daily basis. This is the command of Re'eh Anochi Nosein Lifneichem Hayom; the daily choices given to the one who is able to fulfill the mitzvoth as if they were given Hayom, constantly aware of the growth experiences available to him.
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