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Our Torah portion this Shabbat, Re’eh, opens with God’s words to the Israelites: “See, this day I set before you blessing and curse.  What follows is quite characteristic of Torah, promising Israel that if they stay true to their path, to their obligations, to what God asks of them, blessings will indeed be theirs.  But (and you can probably guess what’s coming!) should they turn away from God’s commandments thereby failing to keep their part of the Covenant, curses wait at the door.

For us today, certainly being our very best selves, treating others ethically, doing good work in the world increases the likelihood of blessing.  That is our best, most enduring hope.  We also know, sometimes painfully, that the struggles we face, the things we and our loved ones experience as curses can’t be boiled down to that simple a formula.  You did wrong and that’s why bad things are happening to you.  Theology is many things, but it should never be cruel.

That is why I have come to read, and teach, these words of Torah not as an if/then quid-pro-quo formula, and more as an invitation.  It is a beautiful and difficult invitation – to do exactly what the portion’s opening would have us do.  Re’eh… to see.  To take an honest look at this world, at all that is set before us, and to contend with its blessings and curses; its pain and its wonder.  To ask ourselves, without blame or guilt, what is one thing we might be able to do to alleviate some of the suffering… some of the hard things … whether others’ or our own.

These are not new questions or obligations… in many ways we’ve been reflecting on them throughout the year, and particularly over the summer, as our ancestors get closer and closer to the end of their wandering through the wilderness… and as we now come closer to the end of our journey though the past year, and the beginning of our journey into a new one.

Rosh Chodesh Elul, the start of the month immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is the ideal time to return to these questions, just as new beginnings call us to return to our fullest potential, to our sense of inner mission.  To that end, look for upcoming Shabbat to Shabbat greetings that will share a High Holiday teaching and offer a challenge or question based on it to grapple with in our own ways.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Shabbat Shalom,