| See, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse: | Re’eh anochi noten lifneichem hayom bracha uklalal. | רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה׃ |
COMING SOON
Parashat Re’eh has many fascinating components: it addresses tithing, freeing your slave with provisions for him or her to start an independent future, reminding us to give to the Levite, and widow, and the orphan, and to worship in the way God wants us to, not in the ways of those around us.
But when looked at as a whole, the parsha is about gratefulness and generosity. We are reminded that the slave worked for us for half of what we would have paid a free person, so we must provide for his future. The Levite (this includes, by the way, Cohanim) has no portion of the land, as he serves God on our behalf; provide for him and his family. The widow and orphan have suffered misfortune you have not. And remember that you did not earn the land; God gave it to you. Give back.
