Eikev
Rabbi Jablinowitz
One of the themes of this week's parsha is the uniqueness of Eretz Yisrael. In the beginning of the parsha (Chapter 8, Pasukim 7 -9), the Torah describes the beauty and topography of Eretz Yisrael. It describes Eretz Yisrael as an Eretz Tovah, a good land, and it describes the land as a place with streams of water and springs flowing through the hills and the valleys. It is described as a land where nothing is lacking, and we also learn of the mitzvah of Birkas Hamazon, blessing after eating to the point of satiation. What is the significance of the detailed description of the land and the subsequent mitzvah of Birkas Hamazon?
The Sfas Emes expounds on an idea brought in the Sefarim that there are categories of holiness in time, place, and individuals, olam, shanah, v'nefesh. The holiest time of all is Shabbos. And even though Schar B'Hai Alma Leika, there is no real reward in this world, there is reward on Shabbos since Shabbos is M'eiyn Olam Haba, we have a taste of the world to come on Shabbos. This idea is expressed by Chazal in the Medrash Rabbah in the very beginning of our parsha. The Medrash says (3,1), Lo Nasati Lecha Ela L'Tovascha, I have given you the Shabbos only for your good. At Mekadesh es HaShabbos B'Ma'achal U'Vemishte, U'Bekesus Nekiyah, U'mehaneh es Nafshecha, V'Ani Nosein Lecha Schar. You sanctify Shabbos by eating and drinking and wearing clean clothes, and I will give you reward.
Eretz Yisrael is the parallel in place to what Shabbos is in time. Just as the Medrash teaches that Shabbos was only given for our good, L'Tovascha, so too Eretz Yisrael is described as an Eretz Tovah. Even though the world is filled with a mixture of both good and bad, Eretz Yisrael is a place of only good. And the result is that it is a very spiritual place. The seemingly topographical description of the brooks and streams and springs flowing through the valleys and the hills of Eretz Yisrael is really a spiritual description of the land. There is direct bounty from Hashem coming down to Eretz Yisrael. The words Nachalei Mayim, streams of water, is to be understood as a Nachalah, a special portion we receive from Hashem. Just as Shabbos is referred to as a Nachalah B'lo Metzarim, a portion without borders, so too Eretz Yisrael is a holy portion through which the wellsprings of Hashem's influence, ayano u'tehomos, bless the land and its inhabitants.
The physical becomes spiritual. Just as the Medrash teaches that we receive reward for our physical pleasure on Shabbos, so too the eating in Eretz Yisrael is holy as well. The pasuk says (Pasuk 10), V'Achalta V'Savata U'Berachta, You shall eat, become satiated, and you will bless. This is the source for Birkas Hamazon. The Sfas Emes points out that the Torah should say, U'Tevareich, and you shall bless. This is the more appropriate way for the Torah to command a blessing. The word U'Berachta indicates more of a natural response. After you eat and feel satiated, you will naturally bless. The sensation of eating from the produce of the land of Israel will automatically inspire one to respond with blessing to Hashem.
The Torah states by the mitzvah of Challah (Bamidbar, Chapter 15, Pasuk 19), V'Hayah B'Achalchem M'Lechem H'Aretz Tarimu Serumah L'Hashem. When you eat the bread of the land, you shall lift up a donation to Hashem, a reference to Challah. The Sefarim say, when you eat from the bread of the land, you yourself shall be lifted up. The pasuk is understood in a reflexive manner as referring to the one eating. Just as we are lifted up and given reward for eating and drinking on Shabbos, so too the actual eating and drinking in Eretz Yisrael carries with it a reward as well. As the pasuk says, Tarimu Serumah L'Hashem; the eating of the bread in the land of Israel lifts us up and brings us closer to Hashem.
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