Seeing G-d's Presence Inside of Us
Reeh
ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה
“See I have placed before you today, blessing and curse”.
“See I have placed before you today, blessing and curse”.
The opening word ראה is in singular form, whereas the rest of the verse reverts to plural form.
Many of the commentators, including the Tzror Hamor, see in this an allusion to the unique unity of the Jewish people.
Even though our people is comprised of individuals, we are one. This oneness is on account of the common soul that we all share, that comes from the Oneness of Hashem.
When the Torah enumerates the children of Eisav, the verse says שש נפשות - six souls, using the plural term souls. Even though Yaakov had 70 family members, the Torah counts them as שבעים נפש, using the singular word for soul.
This soul is imbued within us from Hashem’s very Essence.
This too is hinted in the verse. In addition to “before you”, the word לפניכם can also mean “into you”. The pronoun אנכי - ”I”, refers to Hashem’s Essential being that is beyond any of His Names. Hashem is telling us to see the soul that He has placed within us.
On a deeper level, the verse is saying that Hashem had placed His אנכי, His very Essence, inside each of us. Tapping into this spark and seeing it in others, is the path to actualizing the power of our unity.
The Posuk uses the word אנכי, the same way Hashem refers to Himself in the opening word of the Ten Commandments.
At Har Sinai, the Jewish people are also described in the singular, prompting the Midrash to comment hat at Har Sinai the Jewish people camped like one man with one heart.
Many of the commentators, including the Tzror Hamor, see in this an allusion to the unique unity of the Jewish people.
Even though our people is comprised of individuals, we are one. This oneness is on account of the common soul that we all share, that comes from the Oneness of Hashem.
When the Torah enumerates the children of Eisav, the verse says שש נפשות - six souls, using the plural term souls. Even though Yaakov had 70 family members, the Torah counts them as שבעים נפש, using the singular word for soul.
This soul is imbued within us from Hashem’s very Essence.
This too is hinted in the verse. In addition to “before you”, the word לפניכם can also mean “into you”. The pronoun אנכי - ”I”, refers to Hashem’s Essential being that is beyond any of His Names. Hashem is telling us to see the soul that He has placed within us.
On a deeper level, the verse is saying that Hashem had placed His אנכי, His very Essence, inside each of us. Tapping into this spark and seeing it in others, is the path to actualizing the power of our unity.
The Posuk uses the word אנכי, the same way Hashem refers to Himself in the opening word of the Ten Commandments.
At Har Sinai, the Jewish people are also described in the singular, prompting the Midrash to comment hat at Har Sinai the Jewish people camped like one man with one heart.