This coming Shabbat, August 13-14, 2004 – Av 27, 5764, we will read Parshat Re-eh annual cycle - Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17; triennial cycle Deuteronomy 15:1 - 16:17.

The Haftarah is from Isaiah 54:11 -55:5 and it is the third of seven consecutive Haftarot of consolation (referred to in Aramaic as "shiva d'nehamta"), all of which are taken from the prophecy of Isaiah. The first is recited on the Shabbat immediately following Tisha B'Av and the seventh is recited on the Shabbat immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah.

The title and opening word in this week’s Torah portion, Re-eh, literally means “see” (the imperative form – the command – see!). The opening verse, Deuteronomy 12:26 reads, “See (Re-eh), this day I set before you blessing and curse.”

In everyone’s life there are experiences of blessing and curse. Sometimes we can choose to add more blessing to our lives and avoid curse. At other times there is no choice, and whether we experience blessing or curse may be beyond our control.

The first verse of Parshat Re-eh therefore powerfully presents to us one of the major themes of the annual High Holy Day season. Blessing and curse, life and death-which was dominant for you in the year 5764? And only God knows which may be dominant in the New Year 5765 which will begin in less than 5 weeks.

On the Shabbat when we read Parshat Re’eh we also hear the Cantor chant “Birkat Ha-Hodesh – the Blessing for the New Month” of Elul, the last month of the Hebrew calendar year. The two come together to serve as a reminder that now is the time of the year literally, and most seriously, to “re’eh” – to see, to look carefully at our lives. We should carefully review the 11 months that have elapsed since last Rosh Hashanah. We should also look ahead and prepare ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually for the blessings and curses which may befall us in 5765.

Rosh Hodesh Elul is marked by a two-day observance beginning with the final day in the month of Av and continuing through the first day of Elul. This two-day observance will take place on Tuesday, August 17 (Av 30) and Wednesday, August 18 (Elul 1). On Elul 1, traditional Jews begin two additional religious practices to prepare for the “Yamim Nora-eem – the Days of Awe.”

The first practice begins with Ma-ariv (the evening service) on Tuesday night, August 17 when we start to recite Psalm 27 (Page 40-43 in Siddur Sim Shalom). The theme of this psalm is most appropriate for the season of repentance. It is to be recited every evening and morning up until (and including) the morning of Hoshana Rabba (the last morning of Sukkot) which this year occurs on Wednesday, October 6, 2004. This psalm may be recited whether davening individually or with a minyan. Even if you do not pray regularly at home, I recommend you take a moment once or twice a day beginning on Tuesday evening, August 17 to recite this psalm.

The second ritual which begins on Elul 1 is the daily sounding of the shofar. In this case we begin on the morning of Elul 1, or on Wednesday, August 18. While the preference is to sound the shofar at the end of the daily Shaharit service, this rabbinic mitzvah may be fulfilled at any time during the daylight hours. If you have a shofar at home start sounding it beginning Wednesday, August 18. Do not sound the shofar on Shabbat, and do not sound the shofar on Erev Rosh Hashanah, Wednesday, September 15. We separate the rabbinic mitzvah of sounding the shofar in Elul with the Torah mitzvah of sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah by refraining from sounding the shofar on the day before Rosh Hashanah.

According to Siddur Rinat Yisrael the customary sounds of the shofar during the days of Elul are:

Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah, Tekiah.

The final verse in Psalm 27 states:

There is much discussion exactly how to translate the opening phrase in this verse which is repeated at the end. Siddur Sim Shalom prefers the translation “Hope in the Lord and be strong, take courage, hope in the Lord.” Since we always begin our annual daily reading of Psalm 27 immediately following the reading of Parshat Re’eh (See!), it might be best to translate the final verse of Psalm 27 as “Look to the Lord, let your heart be strong and courageous, look to the Lord.”

First, we look to the Lord, to God’s involvement in our lives during the year that is drawing to a close. Hopefully we will derive strength from the blessings we were privileged to experience, and courage from having overcome any curses which may have been obstacles in our paths. We begin to look this way, backward, in Elul, the last month of the outgoing year, which is announced by the Torah portion “Re-eh/See/Look.

Then it is sensible once again to “look to the Lord,” only this time in the opposite direction. There comes a point during the High Holy Day season of introspection and repentance when we must shift our focus from the past and hindsight, to the promise of the future. Parshat Re-eh reminds us to begin this entire process, Psalm 27 helps carry us along the way, and Simhat Torah marks its joyous conclusion.

Our service on Friday night, August 13 will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Candle lighting time is 7:47 PM.

Our service on Shabbat morning, August 140 will begin at 9:15 a.m. during which we will celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Alvin & Ruth Temin. Mazel Tov!

Our service on Sunday morning, August 15 will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Philip Pohl