Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShavua, Eikev is being sponsored by Mutti and Michele Frankel of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated in honor of Bentzi and Esther’s recent marriage and for the safety of the Chayalim 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.
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 HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. 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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Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, z”l renders to English the opening posuk of our Parshat Eikev, in his Chumash, “The Living Torah” with the sub-title “Reward for Obedience” and provides a brief commentary (Page 903) :
“If only you listen to these laws, safeguarding and doing them, then Hashem your Lord [Keilokecha] will keep in mind the Covenant and love with which He made an oath to your fathers.” [Sefer Devarim, Perek 7, posuk 12]
“If only.” Eikev In Hebrew; literally, “because.” Rashi renders it: “as a reward, if,” Ramban renders it: “as a final result, if.” Ibn Ezra and Chizzkuni renders it: “it shall come to pass if.”
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash renders this translation of the beginning of our opening posuk and provides commentary (pages 980-981) citing Rashi in explaining the word “Eikev”:
“This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances…” (Sefer Devarim Perek 7, posuk 12)
“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. [The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rashi]
[This author notes on the above paragraph: Stated another way, one could understand The Artscroll Stone Chumash “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.]
“These ordinances.” According to Ramban, the Torah refers to the courts’ obligation to exercise judgement in monetary disputes and especially to punish those who transgress the laws and decrees of the Torah…. To the judges who may be afraid to flout [Verb, used with an object: to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock.] the popular will or the threats of the influential, the next posuk [Sefer Devarim, Perek 7, posuk 13] promises that Hashem will love those who are fearlessly loyal to Him — and perhaps that He will inspire others to love them [the judges loyal to Hashem] — and He will bless them and see to it that they and their possessions are not diminished by those who seek to harm them.
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, z”l amplifies on the meaning of “eikev” in his Sefer, “Kol Dodi,” (page 266 – 267):
The word “eikev” really means heel; inotherwords, the extremity of something. Every law has not only the requirements which make up the essence of the law, but also the indefinite end point which is called “lifneem mishurat hadin, more than the boundary of the law.” An observant Jew is expected to observe more than the strict requirements of the law; upholding the law is the minimum obligation, but he should try to do more, to whatever degree he can… to do whatever he possibly can to fulfill the will of the Creator. If he does this, the Torah promises him that Hashem will keep His Covenant on the heels of the minutiae of this Mitzvah.
…When Jews keep the Torah and Mitzvot, Hashem protects them from harm because of their own merits. It is only at a time when, Heaven forbid, we don’t merit Hashem’s exceptional protection, that He, so to speak, relies on the Covenant, which He had kept in storage, and safeguards His people only because of it.
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).
So it seems that there are a number of meanings and understandings for the word “eikev” in Loshen HaKodesh. In this vort we will focus on the meaning and understandings of “eikev — as a result” in our opening posuk, according to Rabbi Hershel Reichman, in his Sefer, “Living the Chassidic Legacy: Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel Volume 2” renders our Parsha’s opening posuk (pages 671 – 672, 680 – 682) :
“V’haya eikev tishme’un et Ha’mishpatim… If you would listen to My laws, then as a result I will keep for you the promise that I made to your fathers and forefathers,” to give you blessings [Rabbi Reichman citing Sefer Devarim, Perek 7, posuk 12]. “Eikev,” meaning as a result, is an unusual word. It is also unnecessary in the posuk. The posuk could have just said, “V’haya im tishme’un — If you listen to My laws, then I will fulfill My promise.”
The Midrash [notes], [Seemingly meaning, Hashem says] I gave you Shabbos for your own benefit. On Shabbos a person eats, drinks and wears nice clothing and enjoys the Shabbos. I will give you reward for that. As the posuk says, “… You will enjoy the Shabbos.” [Rabbi Reichman citing Yeshayahu Perek 58, posuk 13] The posuk continues that you will then enjoy Hashem, and He will grant your heart’s desires. Israel asks Hashem, ‘When will we receive the reward for our Mitzvot?'” Hashem answers, “When you do Mitzvot you will eat the fruits of those Mitzvot now. But the actual reward will come at the end…” In this usage, “eikev” means at the end, like the heel at the end of the body. Returning to our posuk, the Midrash understands that the word “eikev” here means at the end of time. If Jews will keep the Mitzvot at the end of time, then Hashem says that He will keep His promise.
This Midrash is entirely baffling!…. If you enjoy Shabbos Hashem will give you more pleasure. Then it teaches that there is no reward now for Mitzvot. Instead, we receive fruits now and reward only at the end of time.
How much do we struggle to live our Torah lives? We have to work very hard to combine our emotional sides with our logical sides…. According to the amount of effort invested during the week, Shabbos will complete you. If one’s Shabbos follows a week of tremendous effort, on Shabbos, Hashem will restore pleasure. Hashem says, “I will give you tremendous pleasure from being with Me on Shabbos.” This is the amazing s’char,the reward that we do in fact receive in this world.
The Midrash asked if we get reward for other Mitzvot in this world. The answer is no. The reward for [other] Mitzvot will only be at the end of time, “eikev.” Only Shabbos has the incredible gift of oneg, pleasure, in this world. Why? Shabbos itself is a gift from another world. We can feel the oneg of that world on Shabbos. When we go into Shabbos we know that we are in a time warp. It’s not just another day in the week. All that concerns us during the week — all disappear on Shabbos. When Shabbos comes, peaceful rest comes with it. Shabbos is the only Mitzvah from which we can taste otherworldly pleasure.
Olam Haba is beyond time. Other Mitzvot are involved in this world. We do them, but it is impossible to enjoy the s’char [the reward] for these Mitzvot. This world has too much tumah for the s’char of the feeling of connection to Hashem during the week. Though one can feel an important olam hazeh-type connection, the s’char is reserved for Olam Haba. On Shabbos… this one day out of seven is completely different than the other six. When one keeps Shabbos, he will have the oneg, the deep pleasure of Olam Haba.
Seemingly, there is a distinction between “eat the fruits of those Mitzvot now” — meaning the fruits of efforts; i.e. the benefits of Chinuch of offspring, tefillot, keeping kashrut, kiruv, chessed, tzedakah, Aliyah, V’Ahavta L’rei’echa Kamocha, etc., and the s’char, the reward for all of our other Mitzvot in Olam Haba for which we have no idea, no concept of, and cannot perceive the greatness of this reward.
We see, feel the Benefits, the Nachas from having raised offspring who are steeped in Torah, Yiddishkeit, Spirituality, when the offspring grow, marry and create their Beit HaMikdash Ma’ot. We feel the fruits, the benefits of our tefillot — particularly in these over two and half years of multi-front war, our kiruv Rabbanim who are bringing many-fold Jews back to Torah and religious observance. We feel the fruits, the feelings of heart-felt spirituality encompassing our living in Eretz Yisrael, bonding with and caring for our brethren. These are the benefits, the perks — if you will, of our Mitzvot.
However, the S’char, the Reward for our Mitzvot are reserved for us in Olam Haba.
May it be that our leadership — governing, judicial and IDF high command echelons, as well as kol Am Yisrael come to achieve a faithfulness, consistency and unity — both collectively as One, and individually in our avodah — both V’Ahavtah L’Arecha Kamocha, and in our Service of Hashem, B’Ezrat Hashem
May our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators, Iran and the entire terror cabal, B’Yad Hashem, and 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.”
May we see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May we see Operation Roaring Lions — a speedy resumption of the joint action by our Chayalim and the United States against the Mullahs of what has been the Islamic Caliphate dictatorship controlling Iran, that Islam and its barbarous terrorist tentacles of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, as well as Qatar, Turkey, the Houthies of Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, Afganistan, possibly Egypt, and all who seek war against the Jews be totally eradicated, both in Israel’s neighborhood, as well as internationally, B’Ezrat Hashem. May we see a government of Israel secure in it’s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Ezrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be 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. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth 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 recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin 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 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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