Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa in this week’s Torah midrash suggests that Parsha ‘Re’eh’ (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) is unique. Not that it covers territory that the Torah hasn’t addressed before, one way or another. But that this time it is far more…blunt.
And even the title is straightforward. “Re’eh,” can be translated ‘behold.’ Or just plain, “See!” As if what He was saying could be missed.
The Erev Shabbat reading:
But that’s not really the problem. It’s not that the message is even remotely ambiguous. In fact, it’s even beyond “self-explanatory.”
The problem is that — for those that most need to “see,” it’s beyond uncomfortable. It is threatening. Which is perhaps why, Mark suggests, the ‘whore church’ that should take it to heart, evidently prefers to deny it, ignore it, and, most tellingly, just lie about it.
This is thus a very “uncomfortable” portion, because it is also a matter of life and death.
And ‘curses’ that are already very clearly in play.
The three elements that make up the heart of the lesson are just plain damning.
“Re’eh: The UN-holy trinity of things Removed and Replaced — that explains EVERYTHING!“
Service information:
Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship worship services and teachings are broadcast live every Sabbath, via Paltalk. (www.paltalk.com has both the link, and the app.) The “room name” is “Walking Torah with Shabbat Shalom Mesa,” and can be found via the paltalk search, then bookmarked.
Erev Shabbat services begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time Friday evenings (9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central)
Live Sabbath teachings begin shortly after 11 AM Mountain time on Sabbath day (Saturday).
email: mark@markniwot.com
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
