Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah reading, Re’eh, meaning; “See”, Moses tells the Jewish people: “See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse.” At first glance, the message seems simple: make good choices, avoid bad ones. But the command to see goes deeper.

Why does the Torah emphasize “see” rather than “hear” or “know”? Because seeing is personal and undeniable. What we see shapes our reality. The Torah is teaching us that each day we are given the ability to look at life either as a series of obstacles and burdens, or as opportunities and blessings waiting to be revealed.

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, once told a disciple who was struggling with constant setbacks: “When you change the way you look at the world, the world itself changes before your eyes.” The student learned that by training himself to notice G-d’s presence even in difficulties, he discovered strength, growth, and unexpected blessing.

This is the message of Re’eh: blessings and curses may come packaged in the same event. The difference lies in how we choose to see. Will we see challenge as curse, or as the hidden door to blessing?

Each of us has the power to adjust our vision. By choosing to see with faith, gratitude, and awareness of G-d’s guiding hand, we unlock the blessing within every moment.

This week, let’s practice “Re’eh”,  open our eyes to notice not just what happens to us, but how we interpret it. When we see through the lens of blessing, our lives themselves become filled with blessing.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zushe Cunin