This week’s parsha (Re’eh) opens and closes with a keyword: To see. It begins with “Re’eh!” “See!” the choice you have before you to receive God’s blessings or curses. It ends with the mitzvah of “olat reiyah,” (the appearance-offering) when one would bring an offering and “see”/“be seen” by God in the mikdash. What is the relationship between seeing and being seen by God?

The olat reiyah was brought as part of the aliyah la-regel, the pilgrimage made on the three major festivals to the mikdash. While only men were obligated to bring an offering, women could participate in the pilgrimage and according to some sources, were even required in aliyah la-regel. The Talmud teaches that the prophet Jonah’s wife took on this mitzvah. This shows there was flexibility and potential inclusion for the women to take part in the mitzvot of aliyah la-regel. 

The language of the biblical source for the olat reiyah offering is ambiguous: “all your males shall be seen the face of God” (Devarim 16:16). Are they seeing or being seen? How can one see “pnei,” the face of God? The midrash Sifrei (re)interprets as follows: “If you do this, I will “free” (“poneh” which sounds like “pnei”) Myself of all My affairs and occupy Myself with you alone.” When we give of our time and possessions to see others and serve Hashem, God sees and blesses us. 

This mitzvah of the appearance-offering is also mentioned in the blessings on the Torah which we say each morning. It is listed among other mitzvot of loving-kindness for which there is “no fixed measure.” Why is the bracha on the Torah filled with mitzvot of giving either to God or others? Rav Aaron Lichetnstein zt”l teaches that this conveys to us the essence of Torah. Torah without chesed is “flawed.” Torah at its core should make us kinder, more giving human beings. As we begin the month of Elul, this is an opportunity to refocus, be more attentive to the needs of others and in turn be rewarded with being seen and blessed by God. Shabbat Shalom – Karen Miller Jackson