Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

The end part of Parshat Re'eh chronicles the Three Pilgrimage Festivals - Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Ironically, this digest of Holy Days does not include any reference to the High Holy Day period. While the Ten Days of Repentance are distinct from the Pilgrimage Festivals, other Torah portions include them all together. I wonder how one can read this Parsha at this season of the year without thinking of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Ironically, when Parshat Re'eh is read this Shabbat, we will recite the blessing of the coming month, Elul, which prompts us to begin contemplating about the High Holy Days. The coming month of Elul encourages us to begin a process of Cheshbon Nefesh, a personal spiritual accounting of one's being.

A slight allusion to the High Holy Days in the parsha appears in the beginning, where the word, "Ha'Yom - On this day," appears a number of times. In the original context, "The Day" refers to a particular day toward the end of the fortieth year of the journey. In a deeper manner, the commandment to take note of the choices we make is "Ha'Yom," meaning each and every day of our lives.

In Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur, in particular, is called "The Day." In the Machzor, certain prayers start with the word, "Ha'Yom - The Day." For many of us, the first day of the New Year is certainly "The Day." So, in a certain way, we find a High Holy Day allusion in this week's Parsha.

As we prepare to usher in the introspective month of Elul, I encourage us to start examining our behavior each and every day of our lives.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison