IMREI SHEFER BY RABBI SHLOMO KLUGER
Re’eh
Imrei Shefer - Parshas Re’eh
   

How is the blessing different from the curse?

(11,26) “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, when/that you heed the commandments of Hashem your G-d which I command you today. And the curse, if you do not heed the commandments of Hashem your G-d, and you turn aside from the way which I command you today to follow other gods which you have not known.”

The question that the commentaries ask here is well known - why does the Torah write “when you heed the commandments of Hashem” when talking about the blessing, but when discussing the curse it writes “if you do not heed the commandments of Hashem”.

But it seems to me that we can explain the posuk according to the teaching of Chazal in Menachos 29b that one who comes to purify himself is helped, but one who comes to defile himself is given an opening - but is not helped. Thus the blessing is different from the curse in that not only does Hashem give a blessing to one who observes the Torah, but he is even helped to observe the Torah in order that he merit the blessing, because Hashem wishes to bestow goodness on Yisrael. But Hashem does not desire that Yisrael be given a curse and so He does not help them with this.

According to this, the blessing is a blessing in two ways - the blessing itself, and the fact that Hashem helps one who is coming to purify himself in order that he will receive the blessing. But the curse is just one thing - a person brings it upon himself if he transgresses the Torah, but he is not assisted in this.

This is what the posuk is saying - “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”. But they are not similar one to the other, but are very far apart. Because part of “the blessing” is “that you will heed the commandments of Hashem”, because Hashem will assist you. But “the curse” is only “if you do not heed the commandments of Hashem”, of your own accord, “and turn aside from the way which I command you today”, but you will not be assisted in the matter.

(11,26) Why did Avrohom choose subjugation to the nations rather than Gehinnom as a punishment for his descendants?

(11,26) “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, when/that you heed the commandments of Hashem your G-d which I command you today. And the curse, if you do not heed the commandments of Hashem your G-d, and turn aside from the way which I command you today to follow other gods which you have not known.”

Another way of explaining these posukim is according to the teaching of Chazal in Kiddushin 39b that no reward is given for mitzvos in this world, and the Rambam explains that all the promises of reward mentioned in the Torah are not intended as a reward but to enable us to keep the Torah, and the real reward will be in the world to come.

But with the curse it is the opposite, because Chazal taught in the Midrash that when Hashem asked Avrohom to choose as a punishment for his descendants either Gehinnom or subjugation to the nations, he chose subjugation to the nations. Others say that Hashem Himself showed him that he should choose subjugation to the nations rather than Gehinnom. From this it is clear that punishment in this world is preferable to punishment in the world to come.

This is what the posuk is saying, “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”. And perhaps you will think that they are the same, that if the punishment of the curse is given in this world then similarly the reward of the blessing is given in this world, and there will no further reward in the world to come. Or if the reward of the blessing that is given in this world is not meant as a reward but only to enable us to keep the Torah, and our real reward will be given in the world to come, then perhaps the punishment of the curse given in this world is similar and is only to prevent us from keeping the Torah, and the main punishment will be given in the world to come.

Therefore the Torah informs us that this is not so, and not only are they are not equal but are very far apart: “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse”, but they are not the same. Because “the blessing” that is given in this world is not a reward is given in order “that you will heed the Torah” - to enable you to keep the Torah. Because without the blessing you will not be able to keep the Torah and so this blessing is only to help you, but the real reward is given in the world to come. But “the curse” is not to prevent you from keeping the Torah, G-d forbid, but rather “if you do not heed…and turn aside from the way which I command you today”, then the curse will be a punishment for your sin, and there will be no further punishment in the world to come.

Thus there is a great difference between the blessing and the curse.

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