BE A BLESSING

In the section on the verses of blessing in this week’s parasha there is a phrase with an unusual syntax: Yetzav Hashem Itcha Et Habracha “the L-d will command His blessing with you in your granaries and in all your undertakings.” (Devarim 28:8).

Normally we refer to G-d ‘granting’ a blessing or ‘conferring’ a blessing. What is meant by “commanding His blessing?” Moreover, we would expect the blessing to be commanded to you. What is conveyed by G-d commanding his blessing with you?

The late Dayan Morris Swift (died 1983; his brother, Rabbi Harris Swift, was rabbi of this shul 1934-1950) explains that we need to distinguish between the blessings that come to us from the outside and the impact these blessings have on our lives. All the bounty we enjoy is really a blessing from G-d: health, success, fulfilment, family and friends etc. These are really blessings from the outside. If any of these are taken away from us, who are we and what are we?

A person with great wealth enjoys a blessing. But is he or she always a blessing? Are they admired for who they or, are they admired for what they have? Do people respect them? Are people inspired by them?

The significance of our verse is that G-d is saying that He will “command His blessing with you.” This means that you yourself can become a blessing to society. The blessings of fulfilment and prosperity in this context challenge you to become a better person as a result of these blessings and others will become better people through the role model that you will show them.

As we reflect on our lives and the blessings we enjoy, we need to ask ourselves: how many of those blessings have we integrated into our lives? Are we able to be a source of blessing in the people we are, in the way we live our lives, in the type of Jew we are in the community?

We stand on the threshold of a new year. Our challenge is to use the gifts that G-d grants us to become a source of blessing ourselves and share that blessing with others.