Re’eh (רְאֵה – See)
Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17 and Isaiah 54:11–55:5
Moses calls upon the people to see and choose: blessing or curse, depending on their faithfulness to the commandments. The text elaborates on laws regarding centralized worship, kosher dietary laws, charity (tzedakah), and pilgrimage festivals. Isaiah’s haftara speaks of the consolation of a rebuilt Jerusalem and the eternal covenant between God and His people.
Deuteronomy 11:29
וְנָתַתָּה אֶת-הַבְּרָכָה עַל-הַר גְּרִזִים
You shall place the blessing upon Mount Gerizim
It was in Samaria, on the slopes of Mount Gerizim, that the Jewish community of Har Bracha (“Mountain of Blessing”) was founded in 1983. The choice of location is no coincidence: it directly corresponds to the verse in Re’eh, which designates Mount Gerizim as the site of blessing upon entering the Promised Land.
Har Bracha was established as part of the post-1977 settlement movement, during a time when Samaria was regaining Jewish presence after nearly two millennia. Initially founded as a Nahal military outpost, it was demilitarized and converted into a civilian community on Yom Ha’atzmaut 1983.
The yeshiva led by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, author of the halakhic series Peninei Halakha, has become a center of study and spiritual influence. Each year, it attracts dozens of students, many of whom choose to settle permanently after their studies.
The main synagogue of Har Bracha, built in the 1990s, features a modest and functional style typical of mountain settlements: local stone, a low dome, and stained glass inspired by biblical blessings.
Today, Har Brakha has over 3,000 residents, spread across several neighborhoods. The population is mostly composed of young religious families, with high birth rates and a vibrant communal life. The town includes schools, kindergartens, shops, and a Judaic library.