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Re’e: Communal Responsibility
Submitted by on August 6, 2006 – 4:21 amNo Comment | 2,276 views
The Etymological Question
Our Parsha begins with the verse, “Re’e Anochi Noten Leef-ne-chem Hayom B’racha U’klalah,” See I have placed before you today, a blessing and a curse.
The Torah goes on to describe that we determine our own future as we choose our path in life. Choosing to follow G-d is a blessing, choosing the other path is curse.
This verse is grammatically structured in both the singular and the plural. The Hebrew word, Re’e, see, is in the singular and the word, Leef-nei-chem, before you, is in the plural. Why is this verse constructed in such curious fashion?
Impacting Others
The verse is so constructed to help us reinforce our notion of communal responsibility.
We must realize that we do not live in a vacuum and that our personal choices can, and often do, affect others.
As we embark on the course of our choice let us remember that our decisions can either uplift the people around us or, G-d forbid, bring them down. This is not just another consideration for us to take into account, it is the most important one.
We must at least try to make the right choice!
