When
I read the first line of parshat Re’eh, “See I set before you this day, a
blessing and a curse,” I was struck by the idea that we are given free will and
responsibility for our actions. Life is
full of so many choices. Sometimes it is
as simple as deciding between two options neither of which have any moral
implications. Should I eat spaghetti
with my marinara sauce or should I boil the rotini instead? Should I order chocolate ice cream or
vanilla? Sometimes the choices are
between two goods which will both yield positive results. Should I donate to the American Heart
Association or the Lincoln Jewish Federation? Sometimes our choices are between
two unpleasant options. This is known as
an avoidance-avoidance conflict. Should
I schedule myself for a colonoscopy or have my root canal done first? Sometimes there is a choice between a
pleasant and an unpleasant option. This
is known as an approach- avoidance conflict. Should I speed and chance being
detected by law enforcement and ticketed or slow down and avoid the possibility
of incurring a ticket? In the case of today’s parsha, Moses reminds
us that we have two options, we can observe the mitzvoth that he enumerates
that G-d wants us to perform and be blessed or not observe them and be cursed.
Think about the choices facing the U.S. today with regard to
the negotiations with Iran. Wouldn’t it
be easier if we could be told by a Divine power that if we choose position A the
world will definitely be blessed and if we choose position B we will definitely
be cursed. But life isn’t that way. We are forced to make decisions hopefully based
on what we know and what we assume will be the consequences of our actions.
That being said, I’d like to voice my concerns from this
pulpit, not because I believe it is the position of this congregation or even
the majority opinion of its congregants, but because I believe we have a moral
responsibility to care about the well-being of other Jews, including those
living in Israel. Interestingly enough, the first word of today’s parasha,
Re’eh, means “see” but it is voiced in the singular. The word “before you” , Lifnaychem, is voiced
in the plural. One way of looking at
this strange grammatical formulation within one sentence is to say, that each
individual Jew is responsible for what happens to other Jews. How true that is today.
With the Iran deal being presented to Congress for approval,
the well-being of our fellow Jews in Israel is definitely on the line in
addition to the well-being of the world.
If the major players approaching Iran do not want her to obtain a
nuclear weapon, then why would we sign an agreement that does not allow for
“anytime, anywhere” inspections of nuclear facilities in Iran? Why is there talk about almost immediate
rather than gradual sanctions relief?
Can we not see what will happen if $150 billion of Iranian assets which
are currently frozen return to Tehran?
Do we not recognize the support for terrorism around the world carried
out by the Iranian regime? Why would we
not want non-proliferation as the goal rather than allowing Iran to conduct
research on advanced centrifuges after eight years and increasing its breakout
capabilities after 15 years? Do we not
concern ourselves with the lifting of an embargo on the import and export of
conventional arms and ballistic missiles by Iran as part of this deal?
So I recognize that all of these questions directly affect
the well-being of the world and of course America, but it is Israel that is on
the front-lines for immediate security.
The Iranian regime has not given up its cry to eliminate Israel from the
map. It has not given up funding Hamas
and Hezbollah who are on Israel’s borders.
The fear of Iran trying to extend its regional influence is not
unwarranted by its neighbors in the Middle East.
How does this relate to this week’s parasha? When Moshe tells the Israelites that they
have set before them a blessing and a curse, the intent is for them to choose
the blessing because it means choosing life.
We are at a crossroads where we also have a choice to make, one that can
also lead to a blessing or a curse. May
we have the wisdom to choose to uphold the values which so dearly represent the
best ethical principles that have governed this country over the years. May we have enough courage as American Jews
to speak out to protect the well-being of our fellow Jews, thus living up to
the inherent message given in today’s parasha. May we see a final decision made by our
leaders which will leave no one having to fear the future.
Shabbat Shalom.
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