This week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, speaks to our ability to envision the future and to become visionaries. What does it mean to be a visionary? It means we are able to look forward with clarity, and to do this, we must be willing to let go of what holds us back. Often, we cling to attachments from the past out of habit or a sense of dependency. However, Re’eh reminds us that to progress on our spiritual journey, we must overcome these base instincts. To engage with the future and move forward, we cannot allow ourselves to be controlled by the past.

Think of it this way: to make space for new blessings, we need to "spring clean" our lives, clearing out anything that no longer serves us. This portion of Re’eh is also connected to physicality—the body and the material realm. It reminds us that there is a strong link between the physical world and our spiritual vision. To refine our spiritual vision, we must first take action in the material world.

One way to do this is by letting go of certain material possessions. A spiritually committed person is taught to give away 10% of all they have—whether it’s a portion of their salary or even a small piece of food. We should feel comfortable letting go of that 10%, without reluctance or resentment. Why? Because giving benefits us more than it benefits the recipient. Spiritual giving is not about the goodness of our generosity or sacrifice; it’s about purifying the remaining 90% of our possessions. In this way, giving is a tool for keeping our blessings. To protect what we have, we must first let go of a small portion. This keeps us dynamic, present, and unburdened by material possessions, which is essential for becoming a spiritual visionary.

Another way to move toward this visionary status is by making healthy choices for our physical body. What we eat plays a significant role, and if you want to deeply understand the significance of kosher food, I recommend The Gate of Reincarnation by Rabbi Isaac Luria. In short, when humans misuse their free will, they are reincarnated into a lower form, such as an animal. While we can love and respect animals, we understand that they are not on the same spiritual level as humans. Certain animals are ready to be reincarnated into humans, and they are referred to as kosher. By eating kosher food, we bless these animals and help elevate their souls to the next level. In turn, this benefits us, as their soul supports us in gaining vision and spiritual clarity. This demonstrates how good choices in the physical realm can empower us on our spiritual journey.

An excellent material choice to further develop your vision is choosing a good teacher. A good teacher isn’t necessarily a perfect person; rather, it’s someone who has made their spiritual development the focus of their life’s work. The Torah teaches that one of the best ways to grow spiritually is to have regular conversations with a mentor—someone we can speak to at least once a week, if not daily. A mentor’s experience and wisdom can inspire and guide us. The presence of such a teacher helps cleanse us of negativity and keeps our minds focused on our vision. Even in today’s world, where we may only see our teacher via Zoom, their impact on our spiritual development remains just as powerful.

This week’s portion coincides with the month of Virgo, a time connected to purity and innocence. This aligns with the idea of cleansing ourselves in preparation for the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah falls on the new moon of Libra, symbolized by the scales. It’s a perfect time to reflect on this image and weigh our actions—both in our own eyes and in the eyes of the Divine. This is an ideal moment to take physical steps toward refining our vision, so that we can clearly see what we need to change in order to fulfill our spiritual potential.

We wish you success during this important period of honest reflection and concrete action.