Re'eh

This week’s parsha begins by telling us the blessings if we will keep the Torah and the curses if we won't. The posuk states: ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה, see, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. However, why does this posuk start off, ראה, “see” in the singular then switch a few words later to, לפניכם, “before you”, in the plural?

One reason given by the Sefer Hachaim is that Moshe was teaching the future leaders, that when they rebuke their followers, even if only one person is affected, or if they teach and even if  only  one person grows, it's still worthwhile just for that individual.

Reb Menachem Mendel of kotzk says the switch from singular to plural is to show us how to internalize the messages of the Torah, the Torah is first given to all of us by Hashem as a group, then it's up to each person to make the most of it with one's individual effort.

The Vilna Goan explains that posuk this is giving us a tool to help us grow. If one is trying to better himself to grow, but those around him are not on the same page, he should not be afraid to go alone, hence the singular. See that great blessing that will come to those who are not afraid to make their way alone. Perhaps the plural thereafter is teaching us that the reason not to be afraid is that we are never really alone; Hashem is right there with us all the time.

One of the hardest parts of deciding to make change and give yourself a new beginning is how other people react to it. Most of us know the story of Rabbi Akiva who didn't start learning until he was forty and then became the greatest rabbi in history. However, another part of the story is not as famous. Akiva was working for Rachel's father, a very prominent man. Akiva knew nothing about Torah and was even hostile to the rabbis. Akiva and Rachel became very close and Rachel told him that, if he promised to go and learn, she would marry him. He agreed and against her father's wishes they got married. He went to the yeshiva but didn't know anything, so a forty year old man had to sit with the five year olds and learn alef bais. He came home and told his wife, “I can't do this; they are all laughing at me.”

She said, “ok. Go to the market and buy an old donkey”. He went and came home with an old donkey with holes in its back. She filled the holes with dirt and planted flowers in the dirt. A few weeks later, they had a donkey with flowers growing out of its back. She told Akiva, “go to the market with the donkey; don't talk to anyone; just walk around all day with the donkey. When he came home, Rachel asked, “how was your day?” Akiva answered, “I did what you said and everyone was laughing at our funny donkey with the flowers growing out of its back.” She said, “ok, do it again tomorrow”. He went again and same thing occurred.

She insisted that he continue doing this for a few more days. After a week, he notices that no one is even looking at him anymore.  People just got used to the guy with the funny donkey and went back to their own business. Rachel tells him that the same thing will happen at the yeshiva. For the first couple of days they will laugh at the forty year old sitting with the kids, but then they will get used to it and no one will notice. He listened to her and went back to eventually become the leader of his generation.

Additionally, the wording of the posuk teaches us something else, says the Otzer Hatorah - the call for us to choose is constant. Just because one made poor choices in the past has nothing to do with the future. The posuk speaks in the present tense: I present.. constantly the power to choose. Then the posuk says: Today, teaching us that each day is the start of a new beginning.

Let's take this opportunity as we approach the month of Elul to make that choice and better ourselves, not caring what people will say. That won't last, but what we change and the blessings that come with it will be with us for eternity!