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Why does the Torah (תורה) say "See, I place before you blessing and curse" rather than "Listen"? The shiur explains that understanding consequences requires visualization, not just intellectual comprehension. To truly internalize that our actions have implications, we must see and picture the outcomes.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes the opening verse of Parshas Re'eh: "Re'eh anochi nosen lifneichem hayom bracha u'klalah" (See, I place before you today blessing and curse). He notes that Rashi (רש"י) explains this as referring to the future blessings and curses to be pronounced at Har Gerizim and Har Eval, which means Moshe is simply giving information about future events. The fundamental question is why the Torah (תורה) uses the word "Re'eh" (see) instead of "Shema" (listen/hear), which would be more appropriate for conveying information. There is nothing visual happening at this moment that the people are observing, so the use of visual language seems puzzling.
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Parshas Re'eh
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Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
