* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
When we get up in the morning, what do we see? We may see dishes in the sink, our faces in the mirror, pictures on our cell phones... and numerous other things.
But there is also something that we do not see: the spiritual significance of what we do. We do not see the impact of making the right choice, of good deeds and of the power of a mitzvah, of a blessing, of a smile, of a nice or not-so-nice word.
“See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.” Our Torah portion begins with these words, making us aware that we can choose between good and bad.
Our commentators explain that with the word “see” the Torah wishes to convey that our values should be crystal clear, as visible as anything we see with our eyes.
There are tzadikim who live on this level and who truly see the value of proper action. For them, good and bad are absolutely clear, if not tangible. Yet in a culture where we put so much emphasis on instant visual stimulation, our aspiration grows for vision of a spiritual kind.
“See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.” After all, we do understand the difference between a blessing and a curse, between good and bad. But the Torah demands that we not only know the difference in our minds but also see it with our eyes.
May we merit to see what brings blessings and choose to act accordingly.
