(26) See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: (27) blessing, if you obey the commandments of Adonai your God that I enjoin upon you this day; (28) and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of Adonai your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced. (29) When Adonai your God brings you into the land that you are about to enter and possess, you shall pronounce the blessing at Mount Gerizim and the curse at Mount Ebal.— (30) Both are on the other side of the Jordan, beyond the west road that is in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the Arabah—near Gilgal, by the terebinths of Moreh.
(א) ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם היום ברכה (דברים יא, כו). לכאורה תיבת היום, אינו מובן. אך דידוע שהקדוש ברוך הוא מחדש בטובו בכל יום תמיד מעשה בראשית, דהוא יתברך נותן בכל יום בהירות חדש ומשפיע חסדים חדשים ואדם העובד שמו יתברך מקבל עליו בכל יום בהירות ושכל חדש מה שלא היה יודע אתמול. וזהו שכתוב ראה אנכי נותן לפניכם היום, על דרך שאמרו חכמינו ז"ל היום, בכל יום יהיו בעיניך כחדשים, רצה לומר בכל יום תקבל ברכה וחסד חדש:
(1) Deuteronomy 11,26. “See that I place before you this day blessing;” at first glance there seems no need for the word: היום, “this day,” as we know that God renews blessings every day, just as God renews the act of creation of the universe by providing bright light to the Divine universe as this is part of God's goodness. People who serve Adonai are aware that they receive new insights daily and learn things they had not known on the previous day. We may, therefore, understand the word: היום, as “every day,” as our sages said: בכל יום יהיו בעיניך כחדשים, “Every day, you shall regard the commandments as if they are brand new, as though you are just today being commanded regarding them!"
A Vort for Parashat Va’et-hannan
Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, Coordinator, Torah Sparks
Moses tells the people that “I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying” (b’et ha’hi lemor, 3:23). At what time? R’ Israel Salanter (Lithuania, 19th, founder of the Musar Movement) said a person should not put off prayer or study, “I’m too busy; I’m not in the mood, etc.” “B’et ha’hi” – at this time, here and now, it is already (and always) an appropriate time for prayer. R’ Yakov David Kalish (1814-1878, founder of the Amshinov Hasidic dynasty) said davka that Moses intention was for the future, for times of trouble for the Jewish people, when it will be difficult for them to pray b’kavana, in earnest. He prayed that at such times, that God accept the pain in their hearts or the words of their lips as prayer.