Parshat Eikev 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
The Medrash Rabbah at the very beginning of our parsha (3,1) discusses the Halacha of putting together a Menorah on Shabbos. The Medrash states that one who unknowingly puts together a Menorah composed of different parts on Shabbos must bring a Karban Chatas for he has done the melacha of building on Shabbos. And lest one think that the prohibitions of Shabbos are meant to bring us pain and annoyance, it's all for our good. On Shabbos we eat and drink and wear clean clothes, and Hashem gives us reward. When do we receive the reward? Answers the Medrash, Secharo B'Eikev Ani Nosein Lecha, I give you your reward B'Eikev. This is the meaning of the pasuk, V'Hayah Eikev Tishme'un.
What is the meaning of this Medrash? What is the significance of building a Menorah on Shabbos, and what is the meaning of the statement that your reward is received B'Eikev?
The Sfas Emes explains that there is great depth to the halachic question of building a Menorah on Shabbos. Putting together the different components of a Menorah represents the life work of an individual. During the six days of the week, one works on putting together the Menorah and making it complete. Only when it is done is it possible to light the Menorah and then there is the light of Ohr Shivas Hayamim. When it is complete and there is light, then there is Shabbos.
This process expresses the notion that there can't be true reward until the task is complete. The Mishnah in Uktzin (Chapter 3, Mishnah 13) teaches Ein Kli Machzik Bracha Ela Hashalom. There is no real bracha unless there is shelaimut, unless there is completion and wholeness. There can only be a vessel with blessing when the achievement has been completed.
The Sfas Emes explains that this is also the meaning of Bnei Yisrael saying at Har Sinai Na'ase V'Nishma. There must first be action, there must be asiyah before there can be Nishma. Only when we work at something and accomplish our task can there be a level of understanding and clarity.
And this is the meaning of the Medrash which teaches Secharo B'Eikev Ani Nosein Lecha. The word Eikev means a heel and as the Ramban teaches in the beginning of our parsha, just as the word Rosh means head and represents the beginning of something, similarly the word Eikev, or heel, represents the end. The reward will be after you accomplish your task. First there needs to be Na'ase; you must fulfill your work and build the Menorah and then you will receive your reward. Then there will be V'Hayah Eikev Tishme'un, then there will be the reward of V'Nishma. You will have a reward of clarity and understanding and of naturally wanting to follow the words of Hashem. Your reward will be one of Schar Mitzvah, Mitzvah (Avos, Chapter 4, Mishnah 2).
The one exception to this rule is Shabbos Kodesh. This is the Matanah Tovah, the great present of Shabbos. Even though we do not receive reward until our task is complete, Chazal teach us on the words V'Asisa Kol Melachtecah(Shemos, Chapter 20, Pasuk 8) that on Shabbos all your work should be viewed as Asuyah, as complete. On Shabbos we can stop building the Menorah and Hashem gives us Ohr Shivas Hayamim.And Hashem gives us that Kli Machzik Bracha of Shalom, as we say in the davening, U'Fros Aleinu Succas Shelomecha. May we use Shabbos to enjoy our reward of the taste of Me'eiyn Olam Haba, to recharge our batteries to continue our task of Na'ase and merit ultimately in the reward of V'Hayah Eikev Tishme'un.
Good Shabbos
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