Congregation Beth Shalom

Torah Portion: Re’eh
Book of Deuteronomy
Chaps. 11:26-16:17
August 26, 2011

“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God. . (Deut. 11:26-28).”

This powerful biblical statement underscores the uniqueness of humankind.  A commentary in the Eitz Hayim Humash (Five Books of Moses) notes, “The distinguishing characteristic of human beings, setting us apart from other animals, is our ability to choose the values by which we live.  Other animals are driven by instinct.  The Torah repeatedly affirms that humans have the potential to control instinct.  At our best, we are greater than the angels, who do not have to overcome temptation and apathy.  At our worst, we are less than beasts.  Their destructiveness is part of their nature; human cruelty is the result of choice.”

Our greatest blessing can also be our worst nightmare: Freewill.  We have a choice of which direction in life we wish to pursue.  Regardless of disabilities, shortcomings, or perceived obstacles, we are free to determine if we love or hate,  feel good or bad, perform acts of kindness or cruelty, be selfish or selfless.

In the 1920 poem, “The Road Not Taken”, Robert Frost wrote:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

God has gifted us with “freewill” and a roadmap (Torah) to a life of fulfillment and happiness.  It’s the “road less traveled by.”  It requires confidence, self-esteem, and a burning desire to work on behalf of all God’s creations.  It’s a road that circumnavigates the “spacious skies, amber waves of grain, and purple mountain majesties.”  It is also a road scarred by potholes and pitfalls of homelessness, poverty, hunger, and disease.  The road passes through the glorious achievements of humankind, but also the battlefields of war.  It would be much easier to take the other more popular road of indifference, a trip through the carefree Disneyland of fantasy and make-believe.  But, as Frost reminds us, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

We are blessed with choice.  May the choices we make be a blessing to us and all humankind.

Rabbi Howard Siegel