See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me (The Who )

It is almost a year… and the words of Torah continue to feel like they were written yesterday. The opening of this week’s portion of Re’eh are piercing and harrowing;

רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃

See, this day I set before you blessing and curse:

There is a choice to be made, and the crucial decisions that continue to require courageous and compassionate leadership remain elusive. Perhaps the first word is also included to be instructive if not prophetic. SEE, look into the eyes of the families of the hostages, how many have been visited, engaged with by our shameful political leaders? If this ability to see is lacking then they are not worthy of the roles they hold.

We reread the assurance perhaps blessing 12:10

וַעֲבַרְתֶּם֮ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֣ם בָּאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם מַנְחִ֣יל אֶתְכֶ֑ם וְהֵנִ֨יחַ לָכֶ֧ם מִכּל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֛ם מִסָּבִ֖יב וִֽישַׁבְתֶּם־בֶּֽטַח׃

When you cross the Jordan and settle in the land that the Lord your God is allotting to you, and [God] grants you safety from all your enemies around you and you live in security.

Though now tragically the exclamation mark has been transformed to a question mark.

The final chapter of the portion shares details of the Three Foot Festivals, where we discover a distinct  directive, applicable to each one. It fittingly re-visits the name and concept of Re’eh, seeing, and being seen. 

שָׁל֣וֹשׁ פְּעָמִ֣ים ׀ בַּשָּׁנָ֡ה יֵרָאֶ֨ה כל־זְכוּרְךָ֜ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ בַּמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבְחָ֔ר בְּחַ֧ג הַמַּצּ֛וֹת וּבְחַ֥ג הַשָּׁבֻע֖וֹת וּבְחַ֣ג הַסֻּכּ֑וֹת…

We are enjoined to be seen by God, to appear three times a year, and then an additional  striking phrase is used.  וְלֹ֧א יֵרָאֶ֛ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה רֵיקָֽם translated as You should not appear before God empty-handed, understood by the commentators to imply that we must come with gifts, sacrifices. 

This second clause; You should not be seen or appear, (empty handed), seems awkward, that instruction could have been included in the opening statement, Three times a year bring sacrifices/gifts when you come to see God.

With some poetic license might we offer an alternative explanation, God will not see you empty handed, He will bring blessings and gifts. And as we have been waiting far too long, may this encounter happen really soon, bestowing us with our loved ones, reuniting families and preempting the Festival of Ach Sameach, unrivaled and commemorative joy, with those long awaited hands not empty, rather lovingly carrying our hostages home. #Now #עכשיו