Seeing with Clarity: Choosing Blessing in Parshas Re’ei
How Torah teaches us to cut through the noise and recognize the true direction of our choices
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“See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse” (Devarim 11:26)¹
Parshas Re’ei opens with a striking word: Re’ei – “See.” Moshe is speaking to the entire nation, yet he uses the singular form, as though addressing each person directly. Rashi explains that this highlights individual responsibility: each Jew must make personal choices, even within the collective destiny of the people².
Choice and Clarity
Moshe presents a binary: blessing or curse, life or its opposite. At first glance, this seems overly simplistic. Life is full of nuance, shades of grey, and complicated decisions. Why reduce everything to black and white?
The Sforno explains that the Torah is showing us natural consequence: blessing comes when we align with Hashem, while dissonance and struggle emerge when we disconnect³. Ramban emphasizes that Moshe was not teaching abstract philosophy but presenting a real-life choice that impacts every individual⁴.
Blessing as Alignment
Blessing is not a magical reward dropped from above. Blessing means alignment. When we live in harmony with Hashem’s will, we place ourselves in the flow of divine goodness. Conversely, disconnection leads naturally to what the Torah terms “curse.”
The Zohar describes Torah as light that allows us to see clearly where our decisions lead⁵. In Chassidus, Tanya explains that daas pnimi—internalized awareness—gives us the ability to transform knowledge into lived perspective⁶.
Vision for Today
This perspective is especially important in our times. We are surrounded by competing voices, pressures, and distractions. The Torah invites us not just to “hear” values intellectually, but to see them vividly—to train our vision so that our spiritual priorities are obvious and compelling.
The Rebbe explains that vision conveys certainty in a way hearing cannot. Hearing requires trust; sight is undeniable. When Torah becomes something we see, our choices are illuminated with clarity⁷.
Takeaway
Parshas Re’ei calls on each of us: sharpen your vision. See the blessing that comes from living with clarity, integrity, and connection to Hashem. In a world of noise, the Torah gives us eyes to see.
Sources
Chumash, Devarim 11:26 – “See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”
Rashi, Devarim 11:26 – On the singular “Re’ei,” highlighting personal responsibility.
Sforno, Devarim 11:26 – Blessing and curse as natural consequences of alignment with Hashem.
Ramban, Devarim 11:26 – On Moshe’s presentation of clear, direct choice.
Zohar, Vol. II 70b – Torah as the light that grants clarity of vision.
Tanya, Chapter 3 – On daas pnimi, internalized awareness beyond stract knowledge.
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 19, Parshas Re’ei – The Rebbe on the difference between hearing and seeing in spiritual life.