Dear Friends,
This past Sunday’s Noam Buskila concert was unforgettable. The music was stirring, but what truly moved us was the spirit in the room—a sense of Jewish pride, unity, and awakening. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a moment of soul-expression. You could feel it: something deeper is stirring in our community.
And that brings us to this week’s parsha, Re’eh, which opens with a striking verse:
רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה
“See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”
(Devarim 11:26)
Moshe doesn’t say “hear”—he says see. He’s urging us to perceive G-dliness directly, to recognize the Divine presence in the choices and realities before us. But just last week, in Parshat Eikev, Moshe emphasized:
וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן
“And it shall be, if you will listen…”
(Devarim 7:12)
Our mission begins with hearing—absorbing, trusting, responding. Hearing is subtle. It requires faith. Seeing, by contrast, is immediate and undeniable.
Moshe wanted to raise us higher. To help us see the Divine in everything—not just to believe, but to perceive. To transform the pragmatic reality in front of us by recognizing its spiritual potential.
And while most of us live in the realm of hearing, Moshe succeeded in awakening something deeper. He elevated our subconscious soul core—the part of us that intuitively sees G-dliness, even when our conscious minds struggle.
That’s the invitation of Re’eh. To look at our lives, our choices, our community—and recognize the blessing within. To see not just what is, but what can be.
As we enter Elul and prepare for a new year, we invite you to join us in bringing this vision to life:
🌟 Join the I AM YISRAEL CHAI Project
A 12-month journey of mitzvah, meaning, and Jewish pride.
Upcoming events and workshops will spotlight simple, powerful ways to bring Jewish values into your life and home.
Let’s take the sounds of the concert—the music, the spirit, the awakening—and turn them into a palpable vision. A living expression of Jewish pride and purpose. Not just felt in a moment, but carried into our homes, our choices, our community.
And if you’re ready to take it to the next level…
👉 Click here to become a Mitzvah Connector
Share mitzvot with others. Empower your circle.
Together, we’ll answer the call and build a stronger Jewish vision for the thousands of individuals in our community.
Shabbat Shalom / Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Yitzi Hein
Chabad of Pittsford