1. Measuring a Mitzvah in Feet
The Parsha begins with Moshe telling the Jews of the great blessings they will receive if they fulfill G-d?s commands. The Torah says, ?The L-rd your G-d will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you, and He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your Land? You will be the most blessed of all the peoples?? (Chap. 7, verses 12-14). Moshe stresses that these blessings are contingent upon the Jews? behavior ? the opening verse of the Parsha states: ?And this shall be the reward when [?Eikev? in the Hebrew] you hearken to these ordinances and you observe and perform them? (Chap. 7, verse 12).
The Question:
What is the meaning of the Torah?s choice of the Hebrew word ?Eikev? to denote that the reward will be granted when the Jews observe the commandments?
The Answer:
Rashi cites the Midrash, which points out that the word ?Eikev? is also Hebrew for a person?s ankle or heel. Hence, the Torah chose to use the word ?Eikev? to tell us that if the Jews are careful to observe even the seemingly minor commandments that people view as unimportant (and therefore commonly ?tread upon with their heels?), then they most certainly will receive the great blessings detailed in the Parsha.
The Lesson:
People should not underestimate the power of fulfilling a mitzvah, even one they might view as ?minor? or ?unimportant?. In our day, many otherwise religious Jews downplay the significance of living in Israel, finding all kinds of excuses to justify staying in the Diaspora on halachic and religious grounds. It is worth recalling a brilliant observation of the Kotzker Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859), in this regard. Commenting on the Rashi and Midrash cited above, the Kotzker Rebbe asks: how could one even suggest that the Jewish people might be so neglectful of the commandments that they would ?tread upon them with their heels? and dismiss some of them as ?minor?? Rather, says the Kotzker Rebbe, we should interpret Rashi and the Midrash as follows: There is only one commandment in the Torah that a person can fulfill, literally, by ?treading upon it with one?s heels?, and that is the commandment to dwell in the Land of Israel.
Many Jews unfortunately view this commandment as a ?minor one?, so the Torah intentionally chose the word ?Eikev? to introduce this Parsha. It is to tell us that if we fulfill the commandment to ?tread upon? the Land by dwelling there, then G-d will certainly bless the Jewish people as He promised to do. The words of the Kotzker Rebbe, written over a century ago, are equally true today. Too many Jews still view living in Israel as ?just a mitzvah?. People who will carefully inspect their food to make sure it fulfills the most stringent of Rabbinic requirements will nevertheless try to offer many reasons why the Torah?s command to dwell in Israel does not apply to them. But the fact is that it does. Until more Jews realize this, the blessings delineated in the Parsha might very well remain on hold. Let us hope and pray that will not be the case.
2. Give G-d A Chance
After describing the blessings the Jewish people would receive upon fulfilling G-d?s commands, Moshe concludes with a warning about what will occur should they fail to do so. The Torah states, ?It shall be that if you forget the L-rd your G-d and go after the gods of others, and worship them and prostrate yourself to them ? I testify against you today that you will surely perish; like the nations that the L-rd causes to perish before you, so will you perish when [?Eikev? in the Hebrew] you will not hearken to the voice of the L-rd your G-d? (Chap. 8, verses 19-20).
The Question:
Why does the Torah again use the word ?Eikev??
The Answer:
The Rashbam (Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir, Rashi?s grandson) says that the two verses above serve as a conclusion to the theme outlined by Moshe since the beginning of the Parsha. Hence, the Torah used the word ?Eikev? again, as it did in the Parsha?s opening verse, to signal the end of this section. This, says the Rashbam, is to emphasize the basic point that Moshe is making: ?When [?Eikev?] the Jews listen? to G-d - they will settle the Land and live there in peace, but ?when [?Eikev?] they do not listen? ? they shall be driven out of it.
The Lesson:
Peace in Israel is dependent less on the vagaries of diplomacy, and more on the behavior of the Jewish people and their fidelity to G-d?s commandments. Many people mistakenly believed in recent years that peace was a simple matter of realpolitik, of reaching compromises that would suit the competing interests of the various parties while ensuring their security. But the Torah is warning us that there is another component that must be reckoned with ? the spiritual factor ? which is a key ingredient that cannot be overlooked. Peace is a blessing that is granted by G-d, and if we are to be worthy of it, then we, as a nation, must behave accordingly, fulfilling our responsibilities as a people to uphold the Torah and its commands. Arrogating to ourselves the ability to make peace even as we ignore our obligations to G-d can only result in failure, as the Oslo process has so clearly demonstrated. After eight years of Oslo, and the brutal terrorism it has brought in its wake, the time has come to put aside our arrogance and conceit, and to finally admit: We gave ?peace? a chance, and it didn?t work. Perhaps the time has come to give G-d a chance. For unlike diplomats and politicians, G-d is one who keeps His promises.
3. Keep Your Eyes on the Land
Later in the Parsha, Moshe again urges the people to strictly adhere to the Torah?s commandments, as they are about to enter the Land of Israel, the Land promised to them by G-d. Moshe assures the Jews that the Land is special and unique, differing greatly from Egypt, where the Jews had been enslaved for so many years. He tells them, ?It is a Land that the L-rd your G-d seeks out; the eyes of the L-rd your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to year?s end? (Chap. 11, verse 12).
The Question:
What does the verse mean when it says that ?the eyes of the L-rd your G-d? are always upon the Land of Israel and that it is a Land that He ?seeks out?? Isn?t that true of the entire world as well?
The Answer:
Rashi, quoting the Sifri, states that G-d actively oversees and administers the entire world, but that His primary focus, as it were, is on the Land of Israel, for only once Israel has been blessed is the rest of the world blessed. Thus, the Torah singled out the manner in which G-d watches over Israel to stress the special nature of the Land and its importance to the Creator.
The Lesson:
The measure of a person?s love and concern for something is the care he shows towards it. The fact that G-d?s attention is principally directed toward the Land of Israel is a sign of its importance in His eyes. Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, in his book Parsha Parables 3, derives a vital lesson from this. He writes, ?Sometimes we think that the Jewish Land is on autopilot, but Hashem tells us that it is not. His eyes are on it 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. And though we all care for and love Eretz Yisrael, perhaps we, too, should mimic that attitude. We, too, should not be able to imagine a world without a stable and healthy Israel. And, like Hashem, we should also have it constantly in our hearts and minds ? not only during a crisis, when the storm clouds are brewing, but from ?the beginning of the year until the end,? even when the sun is shining down on it.?
Sadly, though, it appears that many Diaspora Jews are more concerned with other matters. They might glance to see if there is a story about Israel in the newspaper, they might be deeply worried from time to time about what is happening, but their attention is largely directed elsewhere. As we saw earlier, however, G-d?s primary concern is about what goes on in Israel, and as Jews, we are commanded to emulate G-d and follow in His ways. If His gaze is fixed at Israel, ours should be as well. This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with a little entertainment, or a pleasant diversion now and then. But as Israel continues to be battered by brutal Palestinian terror, the time has come for all of us to worry a bit less about who wins the latest ballgame and a bit more about who wins the war.
The Parsha begins with Moshe telling the Jews of the great blessings they will receive if they fulfill G-d?s commands. The Torah says, ?The L-rd your G-d will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you, and He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your Land? You will be the most blessed of all the peoples?? (Chap. 7, verses 12-14). Moshe stresses that these blessings are contingent upon the Jews? behavior ? the opening verse of the Parsha states: ?And this shall be the reward when [?Eikev? in the Hebrew] you hearken to these ordinances and you observe and perform them? (Chap. 7, verse 12).
The Question:
What is the meaning of the Torah?s choice of the Hebrew word ?Eikev? to denote that the reward will be granted when the Jews observe the commandments?
The Answer:
Rashi cites the Midrash, which points out that the word ?Eikev? is also Hebrew for a person?s ankle or heel. Hence, the Torah chose to use the word ?Eikev? to tell us that if the Jews are careful to observe even the seemingly minor commandments that people view as unimportant (and therefore commonly ?tread upon with their heels?), then they most certainly will receive the great blessings detailed in the Parsha.
The Lesson:
People should not underestimate the power of fulfilling a mitzvah, even one they might view as ?minor? or ?unimportant?. In our day, many otherwise religious Jews downplay the significance of living in Israel, finding all kinds of excuses to justify staying in the Diaspora on halachic and religious grounds. It is worth recalling a brilliant observation of the Kotzker Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859), in this regard. Commenting on the Rashi and Midrash cited above, the Kotzker Rebbe asks: how could one even suggest that the Jewish people might be so neglectful of the commandments that they would ?tread upon them with their heels? and dismiss some of them as ?minor?? Rather, says the Kotzker Rebbe, we should interpret Rashi and the Midrash as follows: There is only one commandment in the Torah that a person can fulfill, literally, by ?treading upon it with one?s heels?, and that is the commandment to dwell in the Land of Israel.
Many Jews unfortunately view this commandment as a ?minor one?, so the Torah intentionally chose the word ?Eikev? to introduce this Parsha. It is to tell us that if we fulfill the commandment to ?tread upon? the Land by dwelling there, then G-d will certainly bless the Jewish people as He promised to do. The words of the Kotzker Rebbe, written over a century ago, are equally true today. Too many Jews still view living in Israel as ?just a mitzvah?. People who will carefully inspect their food to make sure it fulfills the most stringent of Rabbinic requirements will nevertheless try to offer many reasons why the Torah?s command to dwell in Israel does not apply to them. But the fact is that it does. Until more Jews realize this, the blessings delineated in the Parsha might very well remain on hold. Let us hope and pray that will not be the case.
2. Give G-d A Chance
After describing the blessings the Jewish people would receive upon fulfilling G-d?s commands, Moshe concludes with a warning about what will occur should they fail to do so. The Torah states, ?It shall be that if you forget the L-rd your G-d and go after the gods of others, and worship them and prostrate yourself to them ? I testify against you today that you will surely perish; like the nations that the L-rd causes to perish before you, so will you perish when [?Eikev? in the Hebrew] you will not hearken to the voice of the L-rd your G-d? (Chap. 8, verses 19-20).
The Question:
Why does the Torah again use the word ?Eikev??
The Answer:
The Rashbam (Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir, Rashi?s grandson) says that the two verses above serve as a conclusion to the theme outlined by Moshe since the beginning of the Parsha. Hence, the Torah used the word ?Eikev? again, as it did in the Parsha?s opening verse, to signal the end of this section. This, says the Rashbam, is to emphasize the basic point that Moshe is making: ?When [?Eikev?] the Jews listen? to G-d - they will settle the Land and live there in peace, but ?when [?Eikev?] they do not listen? ? they shall be driven out of it.
The Lesson:
Peace in Israel is dependent less on the vagaries of diplomacy, and more on the behavior of the Jewish people and their fidelity to G-d?s commandments. Many people mistakenly believed in recent years that peace was a simple matter of realpolitik, of reaching compromises that would suit the competing interests of the various parties while ensuring their security. But the Torah is warning us that there is another component that must be reckoned with ? the spiritual factor ? which is a key ingredient that cannot be overlooked. Peace is a blessing that is granted by G-d, and if we are to be worthy of it, then we, as a nation, must behave accordingly, fulfilling our responsibilities as a people to uphold the Torah and its commands. Arrogating to ourselves the ability to make peace even as we ignore our obligations to G-d can only result in failure, as the Oslo process has so clearly demonstrated. After eight years of Oslo, and the brutal terrorism it has brought in its wake, the time has come to put aside our arrogance and conceit, and to finally admit: We gave ?peace? a chance, and it didn?t work. Perhaps the time has come to give G-d a chance. For unlike diplomats and politicians, G-d is one who keeps His promises.
3. Keep Your Eyes on the Land
Later in the Parsha, Moshe again urges the people to strictly adhere to the Torah?s commandments, as they are about to enter the Land of Israel, the Land promised to them by G-d. Moshe assures the Jews that the Land is special and unique, differing greatly from Egypt, where the Jews had been enslaved for so many years. He tells them, ?It is a Land that the L-rd your G-d seeks out; the eyes of the L-rd your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to year?s end? (Chap. 11, verse 12).
The Question:
What does the verse mean when it says that ?the eyes of the L-rd your G-d? are always upon the Land of Israel and that it is a Land that He ?seeks out?? Isn?t that true of the entire world as well?
The Answer:
Rashi, quoting the Sifri, states that G-d actively oversees and administers the entire world, but that His primary focus, as it were, is on the Land of Israel, for only once Israel has been blessed is the rest of the world blessed. Thus, the Torah singled out the manner in which G-d watches over Israel to stress the special nature of the Land and its importance to the Creator.
The Lesson:
The measure of a person?s love and concern for something is the care he shows towards it. The fact that G-d?s attention is principally directed toward the Land of Israel is a sign of its importance in His eyes. Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, in his book Parsha Parables 3, derives a vital lesson from this. He writes, ?Sometimes we think that the Jewish Land is on autopilot, but Hashem tells us that it is not. His eyes are on it 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. And though we all care for and love Eretz Yisrael, perhaps we, too, should mimic that attitude. We, too, should not be able to imagine a world without a stable and healthy Israel. And, like Hashem, we should also have it constantly in our hearts and minds ? not only during a crisis, when the storm clouds are brewing, but from ?the beginning of the year until the end,? even when the sun is shining down on it.?
Sadly, though, it appears that many Diaspora Jews are more concerned with other matters. They might glance to see if there is a story about Israel in the newspaper, they might be deeply worried from time to time about what is happening, but their attention is largely directed elsewhere. As we saw earlier, however, G-d?s primary concern is about what goes on in Israel, and as Jews, we are commanded to emulate G-d and follow in His ways. If His gaze is fixed at Israel, ours should be as well. This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with a little entertainment, or a pleasant diversion now and then. But as Israel continues to be battered by brutal Palestinian terror, the time has come for all of us to worry a bit less about who wins the latest ballgame and a bit more about who wins the war.