Parshat Eikev
Rabbi Jablinowitz
A dominant theme of this week’s parsha is the idea of reward and punishment. When we keep mitzvot we
are rewarded, and if not, we do not receive reward. This connection is particularly strong in Eretz Yisrael where our parsha states (Chapter 11, Pasuk 12), Tamid Einei Hashem Elokecha Bah, and Rashi explains this to mean that Gd is always watching and checking to make gezairot,sometimes for good and sometimes for bad Itim L‘tovah, Itim L‘ra‘ah. This is in contrast to Chutz L’aretz where Bnei Yisrael described their experience in Egypt (Bamidbar, Chapter 11, Pasuk 5) as, Zacharnu Es Hadagah Asher Achalnu B’Mitzrayim Chinam, and Rashi quotes Chazal who understand chinam to mean free from mitzvos. We learn from here that they received food independent of any mitzvos and obligations.
How can one meet these demands of Tamid Einei Hashem Elokecha Bah of Eretz Yisrael? It seems like an overwhelming task.
Chapter 10, Pasuk 12 of our parsha states, V’atah Yisrael Mah Hashem Elokecha Shoel Ma’imach etc., What does Gd want from you, just to fear Him. The Gemara in Brachos 33B asks, what does the Torah mean, all one must do is fear Gd. Is this a small matter? To which the Gemara answers, for Moshe Rabbeinu, it is indeed a small matter. Everyone asks on this Gemara, perhaps for Moshe Rabbeinu it is indeed a small matter, but this pasuk is speaking to Bnei Yisrael, to the masses for whom it is no small matter. How does the fact that for Moshe it is not difficult, answer our question about Clal Yisrael?
The pasuk says (Devarim, Chapter 33, Pasuk 4) Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe Morashah Kehillas Yaakov. The Torah which was given by Moshe is a legacy and an inheritance to all of Clal Yisrael. The Sfas Emes learns this pasuk to mean that not only is the Torah an inheritance for all of Israel, but so is Moshe Rabbeinu himself. He puts a comma after the word Lanu; Moshe Morashah Kehillas Yaakov. Part of the legacy of Am Yisrael is the ability to be like Moshe Rabbeinu. If fearing Gd is a small matter to Moshe Rabbeinu, then it’s not so hard for us either. This is because we have inherited a bit of Moshe Rabbeinu’s traits ourselves. Moshe is part of our legacy.
Our parsha begins with the words V’hayah Eikev Tishmaun, and many comment on the use of the word Eikev which normally means a heel. The Ba’al Haturim points out that there are eikev (172) letters in the Aseres Hadibros, thereby indicating one must keep all the mitzvos. And if you add the letter “yud” for the number of dibros, you get the name Yaakov. The significance of this is that Yaakov represents a person whose entire essence, from head to heel, was focused on keeping mitzvos. He was a complete, organic system of keeping mitzvos. Our command is to follow the ways of our grandfather Yaakov and be head to heel devoted to mitzvos.
The Sfas Emes brings in the name of the Chidushei HaRim that the word eikev is a reference to Rabbi Akiva. And he himself adds that the next word, Tishmaun, is a reference to his student, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. This statement takes our point one step further. Not only are we are all a continuum of Yaakov Avinu and Moshe Rabbeinu, but the Sfas Emes and his grandfather found a reference in the Torah to the future teachers of Clal Yisrael as well. Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon, as the standard bearers of Torah She’bealpeh, are also alluded to as an illustration of keeping this connection going. Clal Yisrael is one whole, organic unit for future generations characteritzed by total devotion to Torah and mitzvos.
This is why we are able to withstand the scrutiny of Tamid Einei Hashem Elokecha Bah. It is part of our natural legacy and inheritance to fear Gd and learn Torah. We are Ma’aminim Bnei Ma’aminim. And it only happens in our natural habitat of Eretz Yisrael where we are tested and able to succeed and withstand the tests. Just as the Torah alludes to the continuation of the link of Torah, so too we know we have it within us to make sure the gezairot of Eretz Yisrael are more often L’tovah.
Good Shabbos
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