When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Eikev (עֵקֶב), the 46th weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings.
According to Wikipedia, Eikev (עֵקֶב), Deuteronomy 7:12 through 11:25, contains 6,865 Hebrew letters, 1,747 words, 111 verses and makes up 232 lines of the Torah scroll. Eikev reminds us of the many blessings of obedience to G-d as well as the dangers of forgetting G-d. Eikev also recounts the making and re-making of the Tablets of Stone, the incident of the Golden Calf, Aaron’s death and the duties of a Levite.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Eikev:
“The Sedra Ekev would seem to be the anticlimax to last week’s Sedra, Vaetchanan which contains the Ten Commandments and the Shema, but this would be a serious miscalculation. The main themes of Ekev include the second paragraph of the Shema and focus us on 3 major concepts.
First, we must acknowledge that when we are successful, we must understand that the secret of our success is the direction given to our hard work by the guidance of Hashem! How often we hear stories of “successful” individuals who win and lose fortunes but who fail to realize that ultimately their fate is in G-d’s hands. They become haughty and arrogant and refuse to share their bounty with the needy. Very often, we see the result of this lack of gratitude reflect on their personal lives manifest in multiple marriages and divorces and in the attitudes of their children who receive excessive material wealth but very little love and spiritual guidance.
The second major point of Sedra Ekev, is contained in the words which are reiterated in the words of the prophets. “Now, O Israel, what does Hashem, your G-d ask of you?” It relates to us that to love and revere Hashem does not benefit G-d but following in G-d’s mitzvot benefits us, even the minor mitzvot. Thus, the opening of the Sedra, Ekev, is a synonym for the word heel which is a reference to the “minor mitzvot” and their importance.
Finally, Ekev imparts in us an understanding that the Land of Israel and its blessings are special and, unlike other lands, receives its fertility and timely rains as a gift from G-d, as long as we treat the Land respectfully and make sure that justice, morality, and belief are observed within its borders. We must take care that stubbornness and haughtiness do not occur within us and that we do not use our success as a reason to avoid learning- as is related in Pirkei Avot- “do not say when I have time I will study Torah-you may never have the time”. Make it a life’s priority and then blessing will flow.
Questions to Consider
- What does the verse, “not by bread alone does a person live” refer to?
- What miracle occurred to the people’s clothes in the desert?
- When will Hashem give us rain in the appointed time?
- When Korach and his followers were swallowed up what else disappeared with them? What does symbolize?”
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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