And you shall rejoice before HASHEM, your G-d, -you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite who is within your cities, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are among you, in the place which HASHEM, your G-d, will choose to establish His Name therein. (Devarim 16:11)

the Levite… the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. [HASHEM says:] These are My four, corresponding to your four, “Your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant.” If you shall gladden Mine, I will gladden yours. – Rashi

Here is an “eye-opening” insight by Rashi, and it only makes sense that it is found in Parshas “Re’eh” which means “see”. This may help us understand the connection between the beginning and the end. We start out with a visual experience of Mount Grizim, which was an example of a flourishing life filled existence and Mount Eival which is the paradigm of fruitlessness. One is blessed and one is cursed.

In the very end we are hearing all about the national Yomim Tovim, holidays that are to be centered around the Beis HaMikdash, which like the Mishkan was a portable and then a fixed Mount Sinai experience where, as the Torah tells us, “The entire nation saw the Kolos, the sounds”. (Shemos 20:15)

Here too the entire nation would gather for R’eeyas Panim, to be seen by and/or to see HASHEM. All doubts were resolved. All fractures in Emunah were cured through this visual experience.
Now Rashi shares with us some important information on how to get the most out of this experience. He tells us that HASHEM is saying that if you take care of my four then I will take care of your four. What’s going on here? Included in the list of revelers are four categories of individuals who have no one to take care of them. They are inherently weak and vulnerable. HASHEM himself hears their cry like a mother is naturally tuned into her helpless newborn child. If we take care of HASHEM’s then HE takes care of ours.

We see in the Parsha, “Banim Atem L’HASHEM …” – “You are Children to HASHEM your G-d”. We are all HASHEM’s children. A parent loves all of his children equally but he will be more responsive to those that are in a vulnerable position. The magic formula spelled out here is that if you take care of HASHEM’s children, especially the most-needy, then HASHEM will take care of your children.

This is the intersection between Bein Adam L’Makom and Bein Adam L’Chaveiro – Between man and G-d and between man and his fellow. The Baal Shem Tov pithily stated, “If you love the Tatta, you love the kinder and if you love the kinder, you love the Tatta.” Parents appreciate those who treat their children well and people tend to value children, whose parents they are particularly fond of.

It’s not uncommon that when beginning an assignment with a class, I will get such a question, “Rabbi, do I havta?” I have my answer ready, “There are only two things you HAVATA; V’Ahavta es HASHEM and V’Ahavta L’Re’echa K’Mocha”. The truth is that both of these mandates, to love HASHEM and to love every Jew are inseparable.

The greatest pain for a parent is when the children are not getting along and the biggest NACHAS for parents is when the children are helping each other. A worthy child is good to his siblings. That is the key to success in both relationships. My wife and I repeat often, based on real life experience that HASHEM always sends us angels. The best help, whatever is needed, seems to show up in the right time. We came to realize that the best way to attract HASHEM’s angels and agents in life, is to be an angel to someone else who is in need. If we take care of HASHEM’s children, HASHEM takes care of our children. That’s a portrait of blessing.