Overview of the Weekly Reading: Ekev
To be read on 20
Av 5764 (Aug. 7)
Torah: Deut. 7:12-11:25
Haftorah: Isaiah 49:14-51-3 (2nd of the Seven Haftorahs of
Consolation)
Ekev
is the 3rd Reading out of 11 in Deuteronomy and
46st overall, and 14th out of 54 in overall
length.
.
Pirkei
Avot: Chapter
Five
Eikev
(Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) opens listing the rewards the Jews receive
for keeping G-d's mitzvahs. G-d guarantees to overthrow the kingdoms
living in Israel to allow the Jews to live and prosper there. The
Jews are warned not to be distracted by physical comforts so as to
forget G-d, or they will be punished. Then they are reminded of all
the good and miracles G-d performed for them and His forgiving of
their numerous provocations, including the sin of the golden calf.
Moshe tells how he carved the 2nd tablets and learned Torah with G-d
for 40 days and nights. Moshe goes on to praise G-d, encourage the
Jews to follow His ways, and recognize His great deeds done on their
behalf. The Land of Israel receives G-d's constant attention. G-d
will cause good rains to fall (as well as other rewards) if the Jews
keep His commandments (verses 11:13-21 are the second paragraph of
Shma).
FROM THE MASTERS OF
KABBALA (K:46-64/Ekev)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:46-64/Ekev)
"Gadol"
is one of the names of the sefira of chesed; a person is only as important
as the amount of kindness that he does.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy Ari,
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed (A:46-64/Ekev)
Evil
possesses no intrinsic power; it derives its power solely by virtue
of man's misdeeds. However, in the present order, it must be present
to at least some minimal extent in order for there to be free choice.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the Shelah,
Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:46-64/Ekev)
Greatness
equates with humility because the truly great keep finding out how much
is beyond their ability to ever comprehend. The ultimate wisdom we can
acquire is the knowledge that we know very little. "
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section
on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V46-64/Ekev)
"And fed you with manna, that He might make you know that
man does not live by bread alone." (Deut. 8:3)
When the Jewish people ate the manna in the desert, the "bread
from heaven," they understood that it was a super-natural phenomenon,
i.e., that their sustenance came from the G-dly spark the manna contained.
Likewise, even when eating "bread from the earth," we should
be aware that it is not the physical components of the bread that
sustain us but the G-dliness therein.
(Keser Shem Tov)
"And now, Israel, what does the L-rd your G-d require of
you but to fear the L-rd your G-d…." (Deut. 10:12)
From the way this verse is worded, one would think that this command
is easy. Yet the Talmud asks, "Is fearing G-d really such an
easy thing to do?" For Moses, the answer goes, it was easy. But
how does this help the average Jew? Every Jewish soul, without exception,
contains an aspect of Moses; with the help of this element, fear of
G-d is attainable by all Jews.
(Tanya)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
(W:46-64/Ekev)
This
week's Torah portion begins "Ekev tishma'un". "Tishma'un"
means 'you will hear'. "Ekev" literally means 'heel',
the lowest part of the body. The verse has a dual meaning. First that
just like the heel is the end of the body, so also, in the 'end' we
WILL hear the message that G-d is trying to communicate to us-that He
wants us to serve Him. The second meaning is that this message will
permeate our entire being, even to the coarse heel.
The Rebbe Rayatz connects this to our generation which is called 'ikveta
d'meshicha'-'the heel of Moshiach'. The same dual meaning applies
here. First, that we are the very last of all the generations since
Moshiach is going to come in this generation, please G-d. And also we
are the lowliest of all the generations in spiritual strength.
The Rebbe writes that the message to us, as the heel of Moshiach, is
for us to know that we are like the heel! What relationship does a heel
have with wisdom, with high and sophisticated ideas? Yes, we study Torah,
and we even get excited about the amazing ideas we learn, but we have
to know that it is part illusion-that on an essential level as the lowest
and least of all of the generations, true wisdom is far from us. A heel
is not connected to wisdom. A heel has to know that what is most important
for it is to DO. Our goal is to act!
Yet, even if we are the lowest generation, just as the whole body is
supported by the heel, so all of the previous generations are dependent
upon us, the 'Heel of Moshiach', since it is our efforts that will bring
Moshiach! Nevertheless, the heel is closest to the ground, always in
danger of becoming dirty or collecting negative influences, sweat, involvement
in the physical world. This is the reason we constantly need to redouble
our efforts to physically involve ourselves with holiness. The more
divine light we bring into the world, the more of the negative we can
push away.
We see this duality of humility (see the commentary of the Shlah on
the parsha) and great purpose at the end of the Torah portion. Usually
there are seven segments read from the Torah portion (aliyahs),
and then an eighth aliyah called maftir which repeats
that last few verses read from the seventh aliyah. Maftir
is considered to be the lowest of all the aliyahs, therefore
the Talmud (Megilla 23a) and Jewish law say that maftir may be
given to a child; hence the custom to give it to Bar Mitzvah boys. In
parshat Ekev, the seventh aliyah describes how performing
G-d's will guarantees our strength. It is a phenomenal call to action
and very empowering. And yet, unusually, maftir of Ekev is a
repeat of all the verses from the seventh aliyah. The lowest
aliyah of maftir is a repeat of some of the portions most
powerful verses-demonstrating the duality of humility and strength.
In parshat Ekev, the lesson is for us to "Hear" G-d's message,
and then no obstacle will be able to stand before us. Success is guaranteed!
The second lesson is to be like a humble heel. May we all actualize
both humility and great purpose together in our lives.
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
Leiter
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
For all our insights for this parsha:
from last
year
from two
years ago
