Re’eh Hayom: Seeing Clearly Before Elul

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz

As we approach Chodesh Elul, the month of preparation for the Yamim Nora’im, we find ourselves living through a period that has tested Am Yisrael in ways that few generations have experienced.

Our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael continue to live with war and uncertainty. Our soldiers stand on the front lines with courage and mesirus nefesh. Families continue to wait and daven for the return of their loved ones, while many carry the pain of loss, injury and displacement. At the same time, Jewish communities throughout the world are facing a disturbing rise in antisemitism.

These moments are painful. Yet they have also revealed something profound: when Am Yisrael faces difficulty, we rediscover who we truly are. We are not merely individuals living separate lives. We are one nation, one family.

The words of Chazal become more real than ever:

כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה

“All of Israel is responsible for one another.” (Shevuos 39a)

The pain of one Jew is felt by another Jew thousands of miles away. A soldier standing on the front lines, a family waiting for a loved one, and a Jew facing hatred in another country are all part of one body — Klal Yisrael.

Perhaps this is why, as we begin our journey toward Elul, the Torah gives us the opening words of Parashas Re’eh:

רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה

“See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.” (Devarim 11:26)

This short pasuk contains within it a fundamental message of avodas Hashem, especially as we prepare for the Yamim Nora’im.

Why does the Torah begin with the word “Re’eh” — “See”?

A blessing and a curse are not physical objects that can be seen with the eyes. Would it not have been more appropriate to say “know” or “listen”? A person needs to understand that before him lies a choice between blessing and curse.

The Torah is teaching us that there is a difference between knowing and seeing.

A person can know something intellectually, but that knowledge may remain distant. True seeing reaches deeper. When a person truly sees something clearly, he cannot ignore it. Seeing creates responsibility.

This is one of the central messages of Elul.

It is not enough to know that Rosh Hashanah is approaching. It is not enough to know that we need to improve. Elul demands that we look honestly at ourselves: Where do we stand? What needs to be corrected? What is Hashem asking from us?

The word “Re’eh” carries another important message for our generation.

We live in a world unlike any previous generation. In the past, a person could only know about distant places through the reports of others. Today, technology allows people to see events from around the world instantly.

But precisely in a generation overflowing with information, the Torah teaches us an essential lesson: seeing is not simply looking. It means searching for truth.

Not everything we hear is necessarily true. A rumor can spread quickly. A partial story can create a false picture. A person can accept an impression without ever checking whether it reflects reality.

Therefore the Torah says:

“Re’eh” — See.

Look carefully. Search for truth. Do not allow hearsay, assumptions or emotional reactions to replace clarity.

A Jew must learn to look beyond slogans, rumors and first impressions. The Torah demands that we see reality with responsibility.

The same is true in our personal avodas Hashem.

Elul is not a time to rely on a general feeling that we are “doing fine.” It is a time for honest reflection.

Re’eh — see yourself clearly.

See your strengths. See your weaknesses. See the areas where Hashem is calling you to grow.

The events of recent years have forced us to see things that perhaps we preferred not to see. We have seen the persistence of hatred against Jews. We have seen how fragile security can be. But we have also seen the extraordinary strength of Am Yisrael: the courage of our soldiers, the dedication of volunteers, the kindness between strangers, and the countless acts of chesed that have taken place.

The Torah teaches us that when events shake us, we must not only ask:

“What happened?”

We must also ask:

“What is Hashem asking from us?”

The Rambam teaches in Hilchos Ta’aniyos 1:3:

ודבר זה מדרכי התשובה הוא, שבזמן שתבוא צרה ויזעקו עליה ויריעו, ידעו הכל שבגלל מעשיהם הרעים הורע להן

“This is among the ways of teshuvah: when a difficulty comes, they should cry out and awaken themselves, recognizing that because of their improper actions this difficulty has come upon them.”

The Rambam is not telling us that we can understand the hidden calculations of Hashem or explain the reason behind every tragedy. The ways of Hashem are beyond human understanding.

Rather, he teaches us a fundamental principle: a Jew does not allow difficult times to pass without reflection. Every challenge should awaken us to ask:

What is Hashem asking from me?

How can I strengthen my connection to Hashem?

How can I improve my Torah learning?

How can I daven with greater kavanah?

How can I become more sensitive to the needs of others?

That is the message of Re’eh:

Open your eyes. See clearly. Respond with growth.

The opening words of the pasuk contain another important message:

“רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם”

The Torah could have simply said, “See, I place before you…” Why does it add the word “אנכי”?

Because the Torah reminds us that behind everything stands the Ribbono Shel Olam.

The world is not hefker. Our challenges, our opportunities and our choices are all within the hanhagas Hashem. Even when we do not understand what is happening, we know that the world is guided by a Creator who leads everything with purpose.

The word “נותן” is written in the present tense — “I am giving” — rather than “נתתי”, “I gave.”

This teaches us that Hashem is constantly placing opportunities before us.

Every day is a new opportunity.

Every moment is a new opportunity.

Every decision is a new opportunity for avodas Hashem.

And the Torah says:

“לפניכם” — before you.

The choices are placed in front of us. Hashem gives us the opportunity, but we must choose the path.

The Torah later expresses this same idea:

החיים והמוות נתתי לפניך… ובחרת בחיים

“I have placed life and death before you… and you shall choose life.” (Devarim 30:19)

There is a powerful connection between these two pesukim.

In Parashas Re’eh, the Torah begins with the singular:

“רְאֵה” — See

and continues with the plural:

“לִפְנֵיכֶם” — before you.

Perhaps the Torah is teaching us a profound lesson:

The beginning of change is always personal.

Before we ask what others must do, before we look at society, before we speak about changing the world, the Torah turns to each individual and says:

Re’eh — look at yourself.

Each person must open his own eyes, examine his own actions, and recognize his own responsibility.

A person may think:

“What difference can my actions make? I am only one individual among millions.”

The Torah teaches the opposite.

One person’s choices can influence many others.

The singular “רְאֵה” leads to the plural “לִפְנֵיכֶם.”

When one person strengthens himself, performs a mitzvah, improves a middah, learns more Torah, davens with greater kavanah, or performs an act of kindness, that action does not remain limited to him alone.

It can influence his family.

It can influence his community.

It can strengthen all of Klal Yisrael.

A Jew should never underestimate the power of one good deed.

A small act of chesed, a word of encouragement, a stronger tefillah, or an additional mitzvah can have an impact far beyond what we can see.

There is a famous story told about a person who reflected on his life’s mission.

At first, he wanted to change the entire world. Then he realized that such a task was beyond him. He decided to change his community, but later understood that this too was too great a challenge. He then focused on changing his family, until he finally recognized that the first person he needed to change was himself.

The message of the story is the message of Re’eh.

The Torah does not begin by telling us to change others.

It begins with one person:

“ראה” — Look at yourself.

Open your own eyes. Begin your own journey of growth.

When a person changes himself, the influence does not stop there.

A stronger individual can strengthen a family.

A stronger family can strengthen a community.

A stronger community can strengthen all of Klal Yisrael.

Nothing is insignificant when a person chooses to move closer to Hashem.

Later in Parashas Re’eh, the Torah teaches another lesson that is essential for Elul:

לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת לְבָבְךָ וְלֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת יָדְךָ מֵאָחִיךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן

“Do not harden your heart and do not close your hand against your needy brother.” (Devarim 15:7)

The Torah mentions the heart before the hand, because a closed hand begins with a closed heart.

After a long period of war, pain and uncertainty, there is a danger that a person can become emotionally tired. We can become overwhelmed by the suffering around us and slowly become less sensitive.

The Torah reminds us:

Do not allow hardship to harden your heart.

Continue to care.

Continue to see another Jew.

Continue to strengthen one another.

We have witnessed remarkable examples of this throughout this difficult period: people opening their homes to displaced families, volunteers helping soldiers and communities, and individuals giving their time and resources to others.

This is the greatness of Am Yisrael.

Chazal teach:

מה הוא רחום אף אתה רחום; מה הוא חנון אף אתה חנון

“Just as He is compassionate, so should you be compassionate; just as He is gracious, so should you be gracious.” (Sotah 14a)

Preparing for Rosh Hashanah is not only about our relationship with Hashem. It is also about our relationship with one another.

The Mishnah teaches:

עבירות שבין אדם למקום יום הכיפורים מכפר; עבירות שבין אדם לחבירו אין יום הכיפורים מכפר עד שירצה את חבירו

“Sins between man and Hashem are forgiven by Yom Kippur; but sins between one person and another are not forgiven until one has appeased the other.” (Yoma 85b)

Elul is the time to repair.

To call someone.

To apologize.

To forgive.

To remove old anger.

To speak more gently.

The greatest response to the challenges we face from outside is also to strengthen ourselves from within.

Achdus is not merely a beautiful idea. It is a necessity.

The Jewish people have always had different opinions. The Torah itself contains debate and disagreement. But these disagreements must remain machlokes l’shem Shamayim and must never become hatred or division.

Our task is to build through ahavas Yisrael — to see the Jew before the disagreement, and to see the neshamah before the opinion.

As we enter Elul, the message of Re’eh is a call to action:

See the reality around us.

See the truth.

See yourself honestly.

See Hashem’s presence in the world through the countless nissim we have witnessed and continue to witness every day.

See the opportunity of today.

See the responsibility we have toward one another.

Strengthen our Torah.

Strengthen our tefillah.

Strengthen our mitzvos and our maasim tovim.

The opening words of the pasuk contain an entire program for Elul.

רְאֵה – Re’eh — See.
Do not merely know — see. Look honestly at yourself, search for truth, distinguish reality from rumor, and ask what Hashem is showing you. True seeing creates responsibility.

אָנֹכִי – Anochi — I.
Behind everything stands the Ribbono Shel Olam. The world is not hefker. Even when we cannot understand His ways, we know that the world is guided by Hashem with purpose.

נֹתֵן – Noten — I am giving.
The Torah does not say נתתי — “I gave,” but נותן — “I am giving.” Hashem is constantly placing opportunities before us. Every day, every challenge and every decision presents a new opportunity to grow in Torah, mitzvos and avodas Hashem.

לִפְנֵיכֶם – Lifneichem — Before you.
The opportunities are placed before us, but the choice remains ours. Hashem gives us bechirah. The Torah begins with the singular רְאֵה and then moves to the plural לִפְנֵיכֶם, teaching us that personal growth does not remain personal. One person’s choices can influence his family, his community and ultimately all of Klal Yisrael.

הַיּוֹם – Hayom — Today.
Do not wait for tomorrow. The opportunity is today. The responsibility is today. Every day that Hashem gives us is another chance to choose blessing and come closer to Him.

These five words give us a clear message for Elul:

Re’eh — see clearly.
Anochi — recognize Hashem’s guiding hand.
Noten — recognize that He is constantly giving us new opportunities.
Lifneichem — understand that our choices affect not only ourselves but others and all of Klal Yisrael.
Hayom — do not delay. The time to begin is today.

Because the Torah does not say only Re’eh. It says:

“רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם”

Hashem places the choice before us today.

Today is the day to begin.

Today is the day to strengthen ourselves.

Today is the day to choose the path of blessing.

If we do our part, if we strengthen ourselves through mitzvos and maasim tovim, we turn to the Ribbono Shel Olam with the confidence that He will accept our efforts, be mekabel our teshuvah and tefillos, have rachamim upon us, and bring yeshuah.

May the Ribbono Shel Olam see the zchuyos of His children, our efforts to come closer to Him, and the achdus and kindness within Am Yisrael.

Through these efforts, be’ezras Hashem, may we be zoche to a year of life, health, peace and blessing, together with the complete Geulah.

“הַיּוֹם” — today.  The time to begin is now.