Re'eh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Re'eh, Reeh, R'eih, or Ree (ראה — Hebrew for “see,” the first word in the parshah) is the 47th weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17. Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in August or early September.

a reconstruction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, the site that God would choose as God’s habitation, within the meaning of Deuteronomy 12

1 Summary
2 In Rabbinic interpretation
3 Commandments
4 Haftarah
5 Further reading
6 External links

[edit] Summary

[edit] Blessing and curse

Moses told the Israelites that he set before them blessing and curse: blessing if they obeyed God’s commandments and curse if they did not obey but turned away to follow other gods. (Deut. 11:26–28.) Moses directed that when God brought them into the land, they were to pronounce the blessings at Mount Gerizim and the curses at Mount Ebal. (Deut. 11:29.)

[edit] Centralized worship

Moses instructed the Israelites in the laws that they were to observe in the land: They were to destroy all the sites at which the residents worshiped their gods, tear down their altars, smash their pillars, put their sacred posts to the fire, and cut down the images of their gods. (Deut. 12:1–3.) They were not to worship God as the land’s residents had worshiped their gods, but to look only to the site that God would choose as God’s habitation to establish God’s name. (Deut. 12:4–5.) There they were to bring their burnt offerings and other sacrifices, tithes and contributions, offerings, and the firstlings of their herds and flocks. (Deut. 12:6.) There, together with their households, they were to feast before God, happy in all God’s blessings. (Deut. 12:7.) Moses warned them not to sacrifice burnt offerings in any place, but only in the place that God would choose. (Deut. 12:13–14.) But whenever they desired, they could slaughter and eat meat in any of their settlements, so long as they did not partake of the blood, which they were to pour on the ground. (Deut. 12:15–16.) They were not, however, to consume in their settlements their tithes, firstlings, votive offerings, freewill offerings, or contributions; these they were to consume along with their children, slaves, and their local Levites before God in the place that God would choose. (Deut. 12:17–18.)

14th-12th century B.C.E. bronze figurine of the Canaanite god Baal, found in Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit), now at the Louvre

7th century B.C.E. alabaster Phoenician figure probably of the Canaanite goddess Astarte, now at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain

[edit] Not following other gods

Moses warned them against being lured into the ways of the residents of the land, and against inquiring about their gods, for the residents performed for their gods every abhorrent act that God detested, even offering up their sons and daughters in fire to their gods. (Deut. 12:29–31.)

Moses warned the Israelites carefully to observe only that which he enjoined upon them, neither adding to it nor taking away from it. (Deut. 13:1.) If a prophet appeared before them and gave them a sign or a portent and urged them to worship another god, even if the sign or portent came true, they were not to heed the words of that prophet, but put the offender to death. (Deut. 13:2–6.) If a brother, son, daughter, wife, or closest friend enticed one in secret to worship other gods, the Israelites were to show no pity, but stone the offender to death. (Deut. 13:7–12.) And if they heard that some scoundrels had subverted the inhabitants of a town to worship other gods, the Israelites were to investigate thoroughly, and if they found it true, they were to destroy the inhabitants and the cattle of that town, burning the town and all its spoil as a holocaust to God. (Deut. 13:13–19.) Moses prohibited the Israelites from gashing themselves or shaving the front of their heads because of the dead. (Deut. 14:1.)

[edit] Kashrut

Moses prohibited the Israelites from eating anything abhorrent. (Deut. 14:3.) Among land animals, they could eat ox, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, roebuck, wild goat, ibex, antelope, mountain sheep, and any other animal that has true hoofs that are cleft in two and chews cud. (Deut. 14:4–6.) But the Israelites were not to eat or touch the carcasses of camel, hare, daman, or swine. (Deut. 14:7–8.) Of animals that live in water, they could eat anything that has fins and scales, but nothing else. (Deut. 14:9–10.) They could eat any clean bird, but could not eat eagle, vulture, black vulture, kite, falcon, buzzard, raven, ostrich, nighthawk, sea gull, hawk, owl, pelican, bustard, cormorant, stork, heron, hoopoe, or bat. (Deut. 14:11–18.) They could not eat any winged swarming things. (Deut. 14:19.) They could not eat anything that had died a natural death, but they could give it to the stranger or you sell it to a foreigner. (Deut. 14:21.) They could not boil a kid in its mother’s milk. (Deut. 14:21.)

[edit] Tithes

They were to set aside every year a tenth part of all the yield of their harvest. (Deut. 14:22.) They were to consume the tithes of their new grain, wine, and oil, and the firstlings of their herds and flocks, in the presence of God in the place where God would choose to establish God’s name. (Deut. 14:23.) If the distance was too great to transport, they could convert the tithes or firstlings into money, take the proceeds to the place that God had chosen, and spend the money and feast there. (Deut. 14:24–26.) But they were not to neglect the Levite in their community, for the Levites had no hereditary portion of land. (Deut. 14:27.) Every third year, they were to bring out the full tithe, but leave it within their settlements, and the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in their settlements could come and eat their fill. (Deut. 14:28–29.)

[edit] The Sabbatical year

Every seventh year, the Israelites were to remit debts from fellow Israelites, although they could continue to dun foreigners. (Deut. 15:1–3.) There would be no needy among them if only they heeded God and kept all God’s laws, for God would bless them. (Deut. 15:4–6.) But if one of their kinsmen fell into need, they were not to harden their hearts, but were to open their hands and lend what the kinsman needed. (Deut. 15:7–8.) The Israelites were not to harbor the base thought that the year of remission was approaching and not lend, but they were to lend readily to their kinsman, for in return God would bless them in all their efforts. (Deut. 15:9–10.)

[edit] The Hebrew slave

If a fellow Hebrew was sold into servitude, the Hebrew slave would serve six years, and in the seventh year go free. (Deut. 15:12.) When the master set the slave free, the master was to give the former slave parting gifts. (Deut. 15:13–14.) Should the slave tell the master that the slave did not want to leave, the master was to take an awl and put it through the slave’s ear into the door, and the slave was to become the master’s slave in perpetuity. (Deut. 15:16–17.)

[edit] The firstling

The Israelites were to consecrate to God all male firstlings that were born in their herds and flocks eat it with their household before God in the place that God would choose. (Deut. 15:19–20.) If it had a defect, they were not to sacrifice it, but eat it in their settlements, as long as they poured out its blood on the ground. (Deut. 15:21–23.)

[edit] Three pilgrim festivals

Moses instructed the Israelites to observe Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. (Deut. 16:1–15.) Three times a year, on those three festivals, all Israelite men were to appear before God in the place that God would choose, each with his own gift, according to the blessing that God had bestowed upon him. (Deut. 16:16–17.)

[edit] In Rabbinic interpretation

The Jerusalem Talmud interpreted Deuteronomy 13:2 — “a prophet . . . gives you a sign or a wonder” — to demonstrate that a prophet’s authority depends on the prophet’s producing a sign or wonder. (Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 12a.)

Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:4–6 and Tosefta Sanhedrin 14:1–6 interpreted Deuteronomy 13:13–19 to address the law of the apostate town. The Mishnah held that only a court of 71 judges could declare such a city, and the court could not declare cities on the frontier or three cities within one locale to be apostate cities. (Mishnah Sanhedrin 1:5.)

Mishnah Maaser Sheni (“second tithe”) chapters 1–4 and Tosefta Maaser Sheni 1:1–5:12 interpreted Deuteronomy 14:22–27 to address the tithe brought to Jerusalem. Mishnah Peah 8:5–9 and Tosefta Peah 4:2–10 interpreted Deuteronomy 14:28–29 to address the tithe given to the poor and the Levite.

Mishnah Sheviit chapter 10 and Tosefta Sheviit 8:3–11 interpreted Deuteronomy 15:1–10 to address debts and the Sabbatical year. The Mishnah held that the Sabbatical year cancelled loans, whether they were secured by a bond or not, but did not cancel debts to a shopkeeper or unpaid wages of a laborer, unless these debts were made into loans. (Mishnah Sheviit 10:1.) When Hillel saw people refraining from lending, in transgression of Deuteronomy 15:9, he ordained the prosbul, which ensured the repayment of loans notwithstanding the Sabbatical year. (Mishnah Sheviit 10:3.) Citing the literall meaning of Deuteronomy 15:2 — “this is the word of the release” — the Mishnah held that a creditor could accept payment of a debt notwithstanding an intervening Sabbatical year, if the creditor had first by word told the debtor that the creditor relinquished the debt. (Mishnah Sheviit 10:8.)

Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah argued that Jews must mention the Exodus every night, but did not prevail in his argument until Ben Zoma argued that Deuteronomy 16:3, which commands a Jew to remember the Exodus “all the days of your life,” used the word “all” to mean both day and night. (Mishnah Berakhot 1:5.)

The Mishnah reported that Jews read Deuteronomy 16:9–12 on Shavuot. (Mishnah Megillah 3:5.) So as to maintain a logical unit including at least 15 verses, Jews now read Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17 on Shavuot.

Mishnah Chagigah chapter 1 and Tosefta Chagigah 1:1–7 interpreted Deuteronomy 16:16–17 to address the obligation to bring an offering on the three pilgrim festivals.

[edit] Commandments

According to Maimonides and Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are 17 positive and 38 negative commandments in the parshah.

To destroy idols and their accessories (Deut. 12:2.)
Not to destroy objects associated with God’s Name (Deut. 12:4.)
To bring all avowed and freewill offerings to the Temple on the first subsequent festival (Deut. 12:5-6.)
Not to offer any sacrifices outside the Temple courtyard (Deut. 12:13.)
To offer all sacrifices in the Temple (Deut. 12:14.)
To redeem dedicated animals which have become disqualified (Deut. 12:15.)
Not to eat the second tithe of grains outside Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17.)
Not to eat the second tithe of wine products outside Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17.)
Not to eat the second tithe of oil outside Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17.)
The Kohanim must not eat unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17.)
The Kohanim must not eat sacrificial meat outside the Temple courtyard (Deut. 12:17.)
Not to eat the meat of the burnt offering (Deut. 12:17.)
Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood on the altar (Deut. 12:17.)
The Kohanim must not eat first fruits before they are set down in the Sanctuary grounds (Deut. 12:17.)
Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts to, the Levites (Deut. 12:19.)
To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it (Deut. 12:21.)
Not to eat a limb or part taken from a living animal (Deut. 12:23.)
To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel to the Temple (Deut. 12:26.)
Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations (Deut. 13:1.)
Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, in whole or in part (Deut. 13:1.)
Not to listen to a false prophet (Deut. 13:4.)
Not to love an enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9.)
Not to cease hating the enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9.)
Not to save the enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9.)
Not to say anything in defense of the enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9.)
Not to refrain from incriminating the enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9.)
Not to entice an individual to idol worship (Deut. 13:12.)
Carefully interrogate the witness (Deut. 13:15.)
To burn a city that has turned to idol worship (Deut. 13:17.)
Not to rebuild it as a city (Deut. 13:17.)
Not to derive benefit from it (Deut. 13:18.)
Not to tear the skin in mourning (Deut. 14:1.)
Not to make a bald spot in mourning (Deut. 14:1.)
Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished (Deut. 14:3.).
To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher (Deut. 14:11.)
Not to eat non-kosher flying insects (Deut. 14:19.)
Not to eat the meat of an animal that died without ritual slaughter (Deut. 14:21.)
To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser Sheni) (Deut. 14:22.)
To separate the tithe for the poor (Deut. 14:28.)
Not to pressure or claim from the borrower after the seventh year (Deut. 15:2.)
To press the idolater for payment (Deut. 15:3.)
To release all loans during the seventh year (Deut. 15:2.)
Not to withhold charity from the poor (Deut. 15:7.)
To give charity (Deut. 15:8.)
Not to refrain from lending immediately before the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss (Deut. 15:9.)
Not to send the Hebrew slave away empty-handed (Deut. 15:13.)
Give the Hebrew slave gifts when he goes free (Deut. 15:14.)
Not to work consecrated animals (Deut. 15:19.)
Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals (Deut. 15:19.)
Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the 14th day of Nisan (Deut. 16:3.)
Not to leave the meat of the holiday offering of the 14th until the 16th (Deut. 16:4.)
Not to offer a Passover offering on one’s provisional altar (Deut. 16:5.)
To rejoice on these three Festivals (Deut. 16:14.)
To be seen at the Temple on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot (Deut. 16:16.)
Not to appear at the Temple without offerings (Deut. 16:16.)

[edit] Haftarah

The haftarah for the parshah is Isaiah 54:11–55:5.

When Parshah Re'eh coincides with Shabbat Machar Chodesh (as it does in 2008), the haftarah is 1 Samuel 20:18–42.

[edit] Further reading

The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these classical sources:

Genesis 14:20; 28:22.
Exodus 21:1–11, 20–21, 26–27; 22:1–2.
Leviticus 25:8–10, 39–55; 27:30–33.
Numbers 18:21–32.
Deuteronomy 20:10–14; 21:10–14; 23:16–17; 26:13–14.
2 Kings 4:1–7.
Isaiah 61:1–2.
Jeremiah 16:6; 34:6–27.
Amos 2:6; 4:4–5.
Nehemiah 5:1–13; 10:38–39; 13:10–12.
Mishnah: Berakhot 1:5; Peah 8:5–9; Sheviit 10:1–9; Terumot 3:7; Maaser Sheni 1:1–4:12; Challah 1:3; Bikkurim 2:4; Shabbat 9:6; Megillah 1:3, 3:5; Chagigah 1:1–6; Ketubot 5:6; Sotah 7:5, 8; Kiddushin 1:2–3; Sanhedrin 1:3, 5, 10:4–6; Makkot 3:5, 15; Avodah Zarah 3:3–4; Avot 3:14; Zevachim 9:5, 14:2, 6; Menachot 7:6–8:1; Chullin 2:1, 8:4; Bekhorot 4:1; Arakhin 8:7.
Tosefta: Berakhot 1:10; Peah 1:1, 4:2–10, 17, 20; Sheviit 8:3–11; Kilayim 1:9; Maaser Sheni 1:1–5:12; Pisha 6:2; Sukkah 2:1; Megillah 3:5; Chagigah 1:1, 4–8; Ketubot 6:8; Sotah 7:17, 8:7, 10:2, 14:7; Bava Kamma 9:30; Sanhedrin 3:5–6, 7:2, 14:1–6; Makkot 5:8–9; Shevuot 3:8; Avodah Zarah 3:19, 6:10; Horayot 2:9; Zevachim 4:2, 13:16, 20; Shechitat Chullin 1:1, 7:9, 8:11; Menachot 9:2; Bekhorot 1:9, 7:1; Arakhin 4:26.
Jerusalem Talmud: Berakhot 12a, 16b, 27a, 32b; Peah 15b, 42b, 72a; Sheviit 13a–b, 14b.
Babylonian Talmud: Sotah 23b; Gittin 65a; Arachin 29a.
Sifre to Deuteronomy 53:1–143:5 (e.g., Jacob Neusner, Sifre to Deuteronomy, 175–342. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987).
Exodus Rabbah 30:5, 16.
Deuteronomy Rabbah 4:1–11.
Zohar 1:3a, 82b, 157a, 163b, 167b, 184a, 242a, 245b; 2:5b, 20a, 22a, 38a, 40a, 89b, 94b, 98a, 121a, 124a, 125a–b, 128a, 148a, 168a, 174b; 3:7b, 20b, 104a, 206a, 296b.