Parasha Re’eh

par le Rav Raphaël Benizri

Parasha Re’eh (ראה) — Devarim 11:26 – 16:17. Read on Shabbat, August 28, 2027.

Summary of Parasha Re’eh

Moshe sets before the people the blessing and the curse: the blessing if they heed the commandments of G-d, the curse if they turn away from them. Once they have entered the land, the people will proclaim the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Eval. The places of idolatrous worship must be destroyed, and offerings may be brought only to the place that G-d will choose. Meat may be eaten anywhere, but not the blood. Moshe warns against the false prophet, even if he performs a sign, against the close relative who would secretly entice one to idolatry, and against the city that would give itself over to it entirely. The children of Israel, children of G-d, must not cut themselves as a sign of mourning. Next come the laws of permitted and forbidden animals, then those of the tithes, eaten at the chosen place or given to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow. In the seventh year, debts are released; Moshe asks that one not harden one’s heart or shut one’s hand against one’s poor brother, but rather open one’s hand to him and lend him what he needs. The Hebrew servant is set free after six years, with gifts. Then comes the consecration of the firstborn of the livestock, followed by the three pilgrimage festivals, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, when each person appears before G-d with a gift according to his means.