Re'eh רְאֵה - See!
Torah Portion:
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5
Shabbat: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17
15:19 You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to Hashem your Elohim. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before Hashem your Elohim year by year in the place which Hashem shall choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Hashem your Elohim. 22 You shall eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water.
16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Hashem your Elohim; for in the month of Abib Hashem your Elohim brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You shall sacrifice the Passover to Hashem your Elohim of the flock and the herd, in the place which Hashem shall choose to cause His name to dwell there. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. You shall eat unleavened bread with it seven days, even the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste) that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 No yeast shall be seen with you in all your borders seven days; neither shall any of the meat, which you sacrifice the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. 5 You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which Hashem your Elohim gives you; 6 but at the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came out of Egypt. 7 You shall roast and eat it in the place which Hashem your Elohim chooses. In the morning, you shall return to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Hashem your Elohim. You shall do no work.
9 You shall count for yourselves seven weeks. From the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain, you shall begin to count seven weeks. 10 You shall keep the feast of weeks to Hashem your Elohim with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to how Hashem your Elohim blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before Hashem your Elohim you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, in the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes.
13 You shall keep the feast of booths seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. 14 You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. 15 You shall keep a feast to Hashem your Elohim seven days in the place which Hashem chooses, because Hashem your Elohim will bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful. 16 Three times in a year, all of your males shall appear before Hashem your Elohim in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Hashem empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to Hashem your Elohim, blessing which he has given you.
Today’s Meditation:
When we come to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the Feasts, and in verses 16:16-17, we read not to come empty-handed: “They shall not appear before Hashem empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to Hashem your Elohim blessing which He has given you.” So, here is the point. We are giving our tithes only because we have tithes to give. And it all comes from Hashem. Every perfect gift from heaven comes from Him. And we are to share a portion of that gift with others. The incredible part is that when we do this, we will be even further blessed. How perfect and wonderful is Hashem. He gives, we give, and all the time we are blessed.
Today’s Challenge:
We do not have a Temple to visit for all three Feasts during the year, but we can still celebrate them. And we must celebrate/remember them. If you are not already honoring these Feasts, then start planning today. They are spaced out so nicely. One in the spring, early summer, and fall. Read and study them, then make preparations. Especially Pesach, which requires a lot of planning: cleaning your house to get rid of the bread (leavening) and a very special, long dinner. Shavuot is pretty simple; it can be mostly a Bible study. And Sukkot is really fun: making a Sukkah (booth), having meals in it, or living in it for seven days. You will be so blessed, and you will learn and remember how Hashem blessed His people and how He continues to bless us today.
This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5
54:11 “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
13 All your children will be taught by Hashem;
and your children’s peace will be great.
14 You will be established in righteousness.
You will be far from oppression,
for you will not be afraid,
and far from terror,
for it shall not come near you.
15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by Me.
Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.
16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame,
and forges a weapon for his work;
and I have created the destroyer to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail;
and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants,
and their righteousness is of Me,” says Hashem.
55:1 “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters!
Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat!
Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy?
Listen diligently to Me, and eat that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in richness.
3 Turn your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the people.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know;
and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you,
because of Hashem your Elohim
and for the Holy One of Israel;
for He has glorified you.”
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
In verse 17, we read about a promise that is often quoted: “No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants.” It is a good verse to memorize. Hashem is promising us that as His servants, we are defended against the enemy. No weapon the enemy throws at us will prevail. It may hit us, but it will not accomplish anything it intends. And that the judgment of your enemies against you will be condemned. To me, this is a very comforting verse. It makes me realize that Hashem does protect me, and I don’t need to worry or be anxious about an enemy attack. It will be short-lived. And His grace and mercy and love will be long-lived.
Today’s Haftarah Challenge:
Verses 55:3 is another wonderful verse about life given to us: “Turn your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” What are the requirements to have everlasting life with Hashem? By listening to Him (His Torah, His Words) and by coming (following) to Him. When we do this, He will establish an eternal covenant with us. That’s today's challenge. Once again, I encourage you to study and follow His Torah. Make the necessary changes in your life to obey all you are able. Listen to what He tells you to do throughout the day. You will be blessed forever.
