1. The Tochacha and Its Impact
This week’s portion contains the Tochacha—the section of rebuke, listing 98 negative consequences that will befall the Jewish people if they do not listen to the Torah. There is a well-known story about the Alter Rebbe, who would always be the one to read from the Torah. The Rebbe brings this down in Hayom Yom as well. One year, however, the Alter Rebbe was not present, and someone else read the Torah. The Mitteler Rebbe, his son, heard the reading and took it so much to heart that he became gravely ill. He was so sick that there was concern whether he would be able to fast on Yom Kippur.
When asked why he became ill this year and not in previous years when he heard the same portion, the Mitteler Rebbe explained: “When father reads, I don’t hear any curses.” In other words, when his father, the Alter Rebbe, read from the Torah, even though the words were harsh and full of punishments, he did not sense them as curses. This teaches us that even things which appear on a superficial level to be harsh may actually contain much goodness beneath them.
2. Stories of Hidden Goodness
The Rebbe connects this idea with the story of Nachum Ish Gamzu, who always said gam zu letovah—“this too is for good.” In his famous story, Nachum Ish Gamzu was bringing a precious stone as a gift but it was stolen and replaced with sand. Miraculously, that sand had special powers and enabled a king to conquer a country he could not previously defeat. As a result, Nachum Ish Gamzu was richly rewarded and many Jews were saved. What seemed like a disaster turned out to be an immense blessing.
The Rebbe also mentions another story: When Rabbi Akiva could not find lodging in a city and had to sleep in the forest, his donkey was eaten by wild animals, his rooster was killed, and his lamp went out. Each event seemed negative at first. However, when bandits attacked the city and captured its inhabitants, Rabbi Akiva’s misfortunes actually saved him—no noise or light gave away his presence in the forest.
The lesson is clear: Sometimes what appears negative is actually for a better purpose or even intrinsically better itself. Not everything is as it seems on the surface; deeper insight reveals Hashem’s goodness and kindness behind all events.
3. Blessings Disguised as Curses
The Gemara in Moed Katan (Daf Tes) records an incident where a rabbi’s father sent him to receive blessings from other rabbis but instead they appeared to curse him. When he returned home upset, his father asked what they had said and explained that each “curse” was actually a blessing in disguise. This illustrates that with proper interpretation and perspective, what seems negative can actually be positive.
This theme recurs throughout Torah: If one can interpret events or words correctly—with depth and faith—one discovers hidden blessings within apparent adversity.
4. The Order of Blessings and Curses in Parshas Re’eh
I have always found it interesting how Parshas Re’eh presents both blessings (bracha) and curses (klola). The verse describes how upon entering Eretz Yisrael, blessings would be pronounced on Har Gerizim and curses on Har Eival. Rashi explains that Kohanim stood between these mountains: some tribes stood on Har Gerizim for blessings while others stood on Har Eival for curses. The Kohanim would turn toward each group accordingly.
Yet what is surprising is that in this section of Torah only the curses are recorded explicitly—the blessings are omitted from the text itself. While we know from context (and from Sifrei Chazal such as Gemara Sota) that blessings were given first (as indicated by “levarech”—“to bless”) before turning to pronounce curses, still one wonders why only curses are enumerated here.
5. Cleansing Before Receiving Blessings
The pattern repeats elsewhere: Before Shavuos we read Parshas Bechukosai with its own set of rebukes (48), while before Rosh Hashanah we read Parshas Ki Savo with 98 rebukes—double that number! The Rebbe explains this as spiritual preparation: Just as one cleans expensive dishes before using them for an important meal or gift, so too these “curses” serve as a cleansing process before receiving great blessings.
This cleansing prepares us for all the beautiful elevations brought by Shavuos or Rosh Hashanah. The difficulties serve to purify us so we can properly receive Hashem’s abundant goodness.
6. Why Only Curses Are Listed Explicitly
This brings us back to our earlier question: Why does Torah sometimes record only curses without mentioning blessings? If only one should be listed explicitly, why not choose blessings? Based on Tanya’s teaching about chasodim hamechusim—“hidden kindnesses,” which originate from an even higher source than revealed kindnesses—sometimes these higher forms of kindness must descend into our world clothed in difficulty or apparent harshness.
This order hints at profound spiritual truth: Even when something appears as an order—a decree or curse—if we look deeper we see it brings out blessing in an even more powerful way than open bracha could accomplish alone.
7. Hashem’s Open Kindness for His Children
No matter how things appear externally—curses or difficulties—we must remember we are Hashem’s children (banim atem laHashem Elokeichem). As I recently read in one of the Rebbe’s letters: Just as any father wants only good for his children, so too Hashem desires only good for us.
As we approach a new year or any new beginning, we can expect Hashem will treat us with kindness—not just hidden kindness but open blessing revealed for all to see. May we prepare ourselves properly so that all hidden good becomes manifest good: all should be open goodness and kindness from Hashem in every aspect of our lives.