Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShavua, Eikev is being sponsored by Mutti and Michele Frankel of Ramat Beit Shemesh belatedly in honor of Michele’s birthday.and for the wellbeing of their children and family and dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim and the liberation of all remaining hostages, as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Frankel family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses. To the Frankel family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShevua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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The Sapirstein Edition, “The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary renders translation of the opening posuk of Parsha Eikev:
“And it will be because of your listening to these ordinances, and your observing and performing them: then Hashem Ke’ilokecha will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers.” (Sefer Devarim Perek 7, posuk 12)
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash renders this translation of the beginning of our opening posuk:
“This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances…” (Sefer Devarim Perek 7, posuk 12)
The Artscroll Stone Chumash (Parshat Eikev pages 980-981) cites Rashi in explaining the word “Eikev”:
“eikev” — the reward. The translation follows Onkelos and R’ Saadyah Gaon, and is similar to that of Ibn Ezra. Ramban renders because [you will hearken…].
Midrashically, the word “eikev” which also means the “heel”, alludes to the sort of commandments that people may regard as relatively unimportant, so they tend figuratively to “tread on them with their heels.” Thus, the Torah assures Israel that if they are careful to observe even these neglected commandments, they can be certain that Hashem will reward them with His Covenant and Kindness.
Stated another way, one could understand “eikev” as meaning being attentive to the little Mitzvot; the details, the Mitzvot that one tends to overlook, to ignore, to tread one’s heels on in life’s mad dash, but without which the Jewish people would lack the merit which sets us apart from common man. The little mitzvot are the small details, the ones epitomized by V’Ahavtah L’re’echa Komocha — caring for, and attentiveness to your fellow Jew as for yourself.
This author sees the Artscroll Stone Chumash’s definition of “eikev” — the ignored or overlooked, seemingly minor Mitzvot that people may regard as relatively unimportant; the details one overlooks in the mad dash of living so they tend figuratively to “tread on them with their heels.” Further, this definition of “eikev” seems a prelude (noun: a preliminary to an action, event, condition, or work of broader scope and higher importance — an introduction to an important principle).
The Sapirstein Edition, “The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary renders to English two sets of posukim; Perek 7, posukim 17 – 18 and Perek 8, posukim 17 – 18 :
“Perhaps you will say in your heart, ‘These nations are more numerous than I; how will I be able to drive them out?’ Do not fear them! You shall remember what Hashem Kielokecha did to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt.” (Perek 7, posukim 17 – 18)
“And you may say in your heart, ‘My strength and the might of my hand made me all this wealth!’ Then you shall remember Hashem, Kielokecha, that it was He Who gives you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His Covenant that He swore to your forefathers, as this day.” (Perek 8, posukim 17 – 18)
Aharon Yaakov Greenberg, in his sefer “Torah Gems,” provides commentary on Perek 7, posukim 17 – 18 (page 207) :
If you… say “These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?” and realize your inadequacy, I, Hashem, promise that “You shall not be afraid of them.” If, however, you think that it is your might which will enable you to overcome them, then you will have reason to be afraid of these populous nations. (Aharon Yaakov Greenberg citing Binah Le-Itim)
Rabbi David Feinstein, z”l provides commentary Perek 8, posukim 17 – 18 in his sefer “Kol Dodi” (page 267) :
How fortunate is the person who is given the strength to provide for his own needs, without having to ask Hashem to intervene overtly in his affairs. This is what Hashem wants of us, and those who achieve this goal are indeed blessed.
Such a person, however, is in danger of forgetting that, in spite of surface appearances, really all of his strength and all of his wealth come from Hashem. This is why the Torah has to remind him that what he has is the greatest present Hashem can give anyone — the ability to do it for himself.
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin adds these comments on Perek 8, posukim 17 – 18 in his sefer “Growth Through Torah” (page 405 – 406):
This verse is usually quoted in reference to having an awareness of the power of the Almighty and not becoming conceited due to financial success or success with an enemy in time of war. …Rabbi Shalom Schwadron [said] in the name of the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveichik, that this verse also applies to someone who says, “It was due to my personal spiritual merits that we were victorious.” We should always realize that what the Almighty does for us is due to His kindness and compassion and we should not feel that it was our own righteousness and merits that brought success.
This author sees the points of these posukim and their cited commentaries going beyond an individual’s need to appreciate and internalize Hashem’s kindnesses for his success, rather than feelings of self pride. The point here is that the Eikev prelude seems to be that, just as we may view some Mitzvot as “unimportant,” we tend to overlook
the fact, albeit we must do our hishtadlut in our affairs, that ultimately strength, wealth, or victory in war comes from Hashem.
The points of these posukim, to this author, extend beyond the individual to the field of battle where there could be feelings of fear of either enemy nations or their terror proxies, or fear of constraints in war based on misguided judiciary processes, or depending primarily on technical advances to defeat such enemies, relying on undependable sources of military intelligence out of military command hubris (noun: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance), or based on political agenda or ideology, rather than belief in Hashem. These all seem to have inevitably led to critical intelligence errors such as military command’s overlooking the warnings of their subordinates, and threats and intimidation of these subordinates which led to the mass terror attacks of the beginning of the War of Simchat Torah.
Israel’s fresh victory-oriented strategies in Gaza and attacks in Iran which demolished much of their nuclear facilities, scientists, military leadership, ballistic missiles and ballistic missile manufacturing facilities exemplify positive changes resulting from the appointments of a new defense minister and foreign minister. The pre-emptive actions against Iran are nothing short of miraculous, B’Yad Hashem.
However, the newly appointed military chief of staff, who seemed to be signaling a more zealous, diligent command structure and strategy based on valid understandings of their adversary’s intentions and concern for Israel’s sovereignty and security upon his appointment, now seems to be following in the footsteps of his predecessor in calling for an end to the war in Gaza short of complete victory and eradication of Hamas, i.e. snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and quite possibly sentencing the remaining living hostages to death to boot.
May we see our government and military become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.” And may see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May these words come to fruition B’Esrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif e permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recovery of the remains of Oron Shaul as should the remains of the other chayal from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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