Re'eh רְאֵה - See!
Torah Portion:
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Deuteronomy 14:22–29
14:22 You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year. 23 You shall eat before Hashem your Elohim, in the place which He chooses to cause His name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Hashem your Elohim, always. 24 If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it because the place which Hashem your Elohim, shall choose to set His name there is too far from you, when Hashem your Elohim, blesses you, 25 then you shall turn it into money, bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Hashem your Elohim, shall choose. 26 You shall trade the money for whatever your soul desires: for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you. You shall eat there before Hashem your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years, you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates. 29 The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Hashem your Elohim may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Today’s Meditation:
We are learning about tithing what we have. And then bringing it to the Temple in Jerusalem. He gives us really good instructions for all of this. Even if you are living far away. And you do all this in verse 23 so that “That you may learn to fear Hashem your Elohim, always”. It is all about learning how to serve and love Hashem in all we do. We need to learn how to fear Hashem. The fear is the possibility of not having Him in our lives. The fear is punishment and separation. The fear is about respect, and it is followed by a love for Him so great that we would do anything to please and honor Him.
Today’s Challenge:
Verse 29 is all about taking care of people, “The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Hashem your Elohim, may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” It is about sharing the tithe of your land after three years and then supplying food for those less fortunate. Here is today’s challenge. Always have your “spiritual antennas” up looking for ways in which you may be able to help the poor. Ask Hashem to show you, and He will. And when He presents an opportunity, take it. Help out someone or a family. Even a smile or hello can change someone’s day. Let’s try to be givers and not takers.
