Eikev - Listen the first time

Listen the first time
Eikev


This week's Torah portion, the third in the book of Devarim, is called Eikev. It begins with the words  "
והיה עקב תשמעון - And it will be because of your listening to the these ordinances... that Hashem, your God will safeguard for you the covenant and kindness that He swore to you forefathers". This verse is speaking about the tremendous blessings that will befall us, if we listen to Hashem's commandments.

Many of the Torah commentaries point to the interesting word (and also name of this week's Parsha) עקב (Eikev) at the beginning of the verse. It seems a bit strange, considering that this word also means the heel of the foot (עקב). We read in Bereishit (Genesis) that our forefather Yaakov (יעקב) was named in this manner because of him holding on to the heel of his brother Esav. Our sages therefore explain that the word Eikev teaches us a lesson, that we ought to be as careful with the "small" Mitzvot (that some may trample upon with their heels or disregard), as we would with the big Mitzvot. The common denominator of all the Mitzvot is, that they are the commandments of Hashem. 

Many times throughout the Torah, we see a verse begin with the words "And it will be if you will listen" using the Hebrew word אם (Im). We see this clearly in the second paragraph of the Shema that begins with those very same words, "והיה אם שמוע" (and it will be if you listen). However, in our portion, the Torah uses the work Eikev (because of or when) to teach us a special lesson. 

What is the difference between saying "If you will listen" or "when will listen / because of your listening" ? The answer is that IF implies that you may choose to listen or not to. WHEN or BECAUSE OF implies that you will listen and there are consequences to you actions and listening.

Perhaps the message the Torah is telling us is the following. Save yourself the aggravation and frustration of so many pitfalls in life by listening the first time around, instead of eventually being forced to learn the lessons through mishaps and falling. LISTEN the first time around.

As parents and educators, we often marvel at how our children sometimes do not listen or follow our advice and then need to face the consequences of their choices. We see adults that often do the same thing. Hashem is like a parent, as well, guiding us and reminding us to make the proper choices and avoid heartache in the future.

Shabbat Shalom.

Vaetchanan - Double Consolation

 

Vaetchanan
Double Consolation

The Shabbat following Tisha B'Av (the fast of 9 Av) is called Shabbat Nachamu- A Shabbat of Consolation. The source for this interesting name is culled from the Haftarah reading of this week "Console, console My people, says your G-d" (Isaiah 40:1).

This reading is from the final section of the book of Isaiah, which is dedicated to the consolation of the Jewish people after the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians. This Haftarah is also the first of seven consecutive Haftarot readings that are dedicated to the theme of consolation of the Jewish people, leading up to the High Holidays. 

But our sages see an even greater message within these verses.

As one begins to read this chapter, they cannot ignore the double word of "Nachamu, Nachamu" (console, console) and its implication. On a very basic level, it means a double measure of consolation. Our sages also see this as a double consolation over the destruction of the first Bet Hamikdash and the second one as well. According to the Midrash, the double consolation is not only for the destruction of the temple and being banished but also for the suffering, embarrassment and abuse that was heaped upon the Jewish nation.

As we read the words of Jeremiah's Eicha- Lamentations this year, I could not help but reflect on the atrocities of October 7th and the suffering of our people. 313 days after the worse attack on the Jewish people since the holocaust, families are still in turmoil as their loved ones are still held captive by a cruel and barbaric regime. As we mourned the destruction of the temples of old, we also mourned the destruction that we are living through today.

But we must not loose hope.

The Talmud (Makkot 24b) relates how Rabbi Akiva together with a number of his colleagues (they lived after the destruction of the second Temple) went to Jerusalem . When they reached Mt. Scopus they tore their clothes in mourning. When they reached the Temple Mount they saw a fox emerging from where the Holy of Holies had been. They began to weep, but Rabbi Akiva laughed. Said they to him: "why are you laughing? Said he to them: "Why are your crying?" They answered: "a place that it is said of it "the stranger that approached it shall die, and now foxes traverse it, and we shouldn't weep?"

Rabbi Akiva responded: That is why I laugh. For it is written, "I shall have bear witness-Uriah the Priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah" (Isiah 8:2). What is the connection between the two? Uriah was in the time of the First Temple and Zechariah was in the times of the Second Temple! But the Torah makes Zechariah's prophesy dependent on Uriah's prophecy. In Uriah's prophecy it is written "Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the Temple Mount like the high placed of a forest (Michah 3:12). With Zachariah it is written, "Old men and women shall yet sit in the streets of Jerusalem". (Zachariah 8:4). "As long as Uriah's prophecy had not been fulfilled, I feared that Zechariah's prophecy may not be fulfilled either. But now that Uriah's prophecy has been fulfilled, it is certain that Zechariah's prophecy will be fulfilled."

With these words they replied to him: "Akiva, you have consoled us! Akiva, you have consoled us!"

Beyond the beautiful story and lesson, I find it intriguing that in this story the rabbis used the repetitive language of consolation again. Perhaps, this repetitive consolation is exactly what we need in our day as well. We need consolation not only for what happened on October 7th, but also for the shame, indifference, and antisemitism that we have seen since then. It is only Hashem who can offer us this great consolation.

May it be speedily in our days with the coming of our righteous Moshiach, Amen.