Moshe tells the people of Israel in his farewell address in the book of Devarim that, if they are diligent to follow all of the commandments,
then: “All these blessings will come upon you (Bah-oo Alecha) and will reach
you (V’HeSeeGooCha).” (28:2). Moshe then lists a number of expansive blessings.
Moshe uses the same language a few verses later to describe the converse
situation, in which the Jews fail to abide by God’s commands and will then be
struck by curses (28:15) that he proceeds to list. Why do these two verses
employ two terms to tell us that blessings (or curses) will be delivered
to the Jews – wouldn’t one be sufficient?
Commenting on this seemingly extraneous language, Rabbi
Yissochar Frand cites the Bais Av and suggests that it is not enough that a
blessing comes upon us; it has to reach our awareness as well that we
are blessed! He asserts that too many people may have extraordinary blessings –
happy marriages, healthy children, ample livelihoods, supportive friends and
communities, etc. – yet they do not reflect often or deeply on how truly blessed they
are. The blessings just don’t reach them.
The same can be said of curses, which God may place in our
lives to alert us to our shortcomings and try to prompt us to modify our behaviors
and attitudes (to do T’shuva), so we more closely adhere to the commandments.
Sadly, too many people may suffer misfortunes and ascribe such occurrences to
bad luck, bad bosses, or nasty family members when, instead, they should look
within and undertake a healthy introspection. The curses may come upon them but
often enough they doesn’t reach them.
Moshe’s choice of words tells us that in the optimal
situation we realize our blessings and, if needed, we take notice of any curses
that strike us. In both cases, if we’re mindful enough we end up blessed in the
end.
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