Parashat Re'eh- People are Watching
In the opening verse of Parashat Re’eh, Moshe proclaims to Beneh Yisrael, "See that I place before you today a blessing and curse." He then goes on to explain that the blessing is promised to those who faithfully observe the Torah, while the opposite, Heaven forbid, will befall us if we neglect the Torah’s laws.
Many commentators noted the shift in this verse from the singular to plural form. The verse begins with the word "Re’eh" ("See"), in the singular form, but Moshe then says, "Ani Noten Lifnechem" ("I place before you"), in the plural form. Why does Moshe shift from one form to another in the middle of a verse?
Some Rabbis explained that Moshe sought to allude to us that a person’s Torah observance is not only a private matter; it has an effect upon everyone around him. One of the strongest forces in the world is peer pressure. The way a person conducts himself has a significant impact upon others. And if a person’s Misva observance inspires others to raise their own standards of observance, then he is rewarded for their achievements that resulted from his observance. Conversely, God forbid, a person is held accountable for the results of the negative influence he exerts upon others through his misconduct. Moshe therefore admonishes the people, "Re’eh" – each individual should contemplate the fact that "Ani Noten Lifnechem" – that his attitude toward Torah is a public matter, as it invariably has an effect upon other people.
This concept is reflected in the customs of the Yartzheit. Each year, on the date of a relative’s passing, one recites Kaddish, gives charity, learns Torah, and, in some places, observes a fast. All this is done to bring merit to the soul of the deceased, which stands judgment that day. One might wonder, for what is there for him to be judged? A person cannot do Misvot or commit sins after death. Seemingly, then, once a soul stands judgment right after death, his judgment is complete; there is no further actions for which he is held accountable or for which he can be rewarded. How, then, can a soul be judged each and every year on the date of the passing?
The answer is that a person’s actions have a ripple effect that continues long after his departure from the world. If a person inspired somebody else to become more observant, then that other person’s Misvot each day henceforth are accrued to his merit. And if the deceased inspired someone to educate his children toward a Torah lifestyle, then the children’s Misvot, and their children’s Misvot, are all accrued to the credit of the deceased. And, of course, the converse is true. A person is liable for all the effects caused by his wrongdoing, even long after his passing. Therefore, each year, a soul is judged based on what has transpired as a result of his conduct – the Misvot that have been performed through his direct or indirect influence, and, Heaven forbid, the sins that have been committed because of his negative impact.
We must remember that people are always watching how we conduct ourselves, and very often the example we set will have an impact on those onlookers. Once, after a flight back to New York from Mexico, a fellow Jewish passenger approached me and told me how inspired he was by watching me learn Gemara on the plane. I try to learn during flights not to inspire people, but because I believe it’s the correct thing to do. Yet, little did I know that this practice would influence somebody else who was watching me.
Everyone is a "teacher" in one way or another. This is certainly true with regard to our children, but even more generally, we are "teachers" in the sense that what we do influences people around us. This is something we must realize and remember as we choose how to act and speak at each and every moment of our lives. We must always bear in mind that religious observance is not just a private matter, but something that yields far-reaching effects for untold numbers of people for countless generations to come.
