This Weeks Torah Portion - R'eih, Deuteronomy, 11:26 - 16:17

In this week's portion R'eih in the Book of Deuteronomy, 11:26 - 16:17 God gives us a clear cut choice-- "See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you this day;  and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced. " 

Moses then goes on to reiterate the Laws of Kashrut, rules about sacrifices, laws regarding freeing slaves in the Jubilee year, and all sorts of things that are required to make the choice of a blessing, instead of a curse. Mostly, he admonishes them to not fraternize with the "other." Everything is condensed and urgent as Moses approaches his death.

When we talk about the Chosen People, a chapter like this one reinforces the idea that our fate is in our own hands, and our lives are either blessed or cursed by by our willingness to accept our status as "Chosen".  We must,  therefore, CHOOSE to be chosen. We must accept the yoke of appropriate behavior which God demands of us... for that is the true meaning of being the Chosen People.