This Torah portion, which is always read before Rosh Chodesh Av, contains the answer to why our being cast out of Eretz Yisrael came from love - and what we need to return. Also discussed is the fate of an accidental murderer, and how his forced exile and release are directly connected to the immense power of prayer.
The book of Devarim is full of Moshe's rebuke to the Jews, a review of mitzvos, and more. How can we find all of the sefer hinted to within its first five verses? Moshe chose the last day of his life to give tochachah to his beloved people - and he did so very carefully. Learn great lessons on how to correct others by following his example.
Often we are fooled by external trappings of piety, and look at those with prestige as truly great. But in truth, many times the people who seem low and far from greatness are those with great stores of potential. How can we see this from Devarim? Also, what is an important tool to use to make sure that actions you are committing in the name of righteousness are truly correct?
Moshe implored Hashem to allow him to enter the Land of Israel with his beloved people - and Hashem told him to stop praying, as one more supplication would have tipped the balance in Moshe's favor. What great lessons of the power of prayer do we learn from this incredible episode?
Why did Moshe put the blame of G-d's denial of his request to enter Israel squarely on Bnei Yisrael's shoulders, and what does this teach us about group prayer? We are warned not to add or subtract from the mitzvos of the Torah. What great danger are we playing with if we do? And many more vorts on this week's parsha.
Some go wild at the mention of an eclipse, and others stay up the entire night to see a rare comet, but how many get excited about the sun rising in the morning? Isn't that just as big a deal, regardless of its everyday occurrence? In this parsha Hashem teaches us how to awaken a constant freshness for everything that we are given. This series is full of classical vorts on the weekly parsha.
Why would G-d care about the myriad of nitty-gritty details involved in the Torah? Isn't He bigger than that? And what is the appropriate outlook to take when we are successful in our undertakings to make sure we don't take all of the credit for ourselves? Another topic - is it possible to "bribe" G-d with the charity we give?
Exposure to negative cultures is a problem in itself - somehow, we become pulled to follow that which we know clearly is wrong. How can this truth be proven from a verse in Re'eh? Is it OK to give charity just to relieve our emotional anguish at seeing others in pain? Rabbi Rosenblum ends off with a beautiful vort on our need to aspire to reach our potential.
This week's parsha is chock full of important concepts, from free choice that needs to be clear as day to the potency of giving charity. We may think we're wealthy in spite of giving tzedaka, but can it be that we're really blessed because of it? And is it necessary to investigate the claim of poverty that people make, or can we just give to anyone who says he is in need?
It's easy to judge others and decide if they were right or wrong in their action - but it is exceedingly difficult to pass judgment on ourselves and the true motivations for what we do. Yet not only is that expected of us, but setting up guidelines to enforce the verdict we have given ourselves is also expected. An excellent connection of the parsha to the world of every day action.