Parashat Eikev – 5784

23, August 2024

Week of 18-24, 2024

                                  Torah portion: Dt. 7 :12-11 :25 Haftarah: Isa.49 :14-51:3

Theme: You are my treasured possession!

In our Parasha, Moses is giving his closing message to the Israelites. Eikev meaning ‘as a result,’ viewed this opportunity as a teachable moment and thus he reminded them of their rebellious nature which was witnessed on many occasions. These included the tragedy of the Golden Calf: “They have been quick to turn away from my commandments.” (Ex.32:8)  and that of Korach the leader of the rebellion:  “Why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (Num.6:3).  There was also the episode of the spies: “So they brought a bad report of the land which they had spied out. (Num 13:32) and their grumbling at Massah: “Why did you bring us up from Egypt – to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? (Ex. 17:3)  These were the notable times that the Israelites did not heed any direction but went ahead with their own designs.

     It is interesting to note that our portion, ‘Eikev’ has the same letters as the word, ‘akeiv’ meaning ‘heel.’ According to Rashi this is an allusion to those mitzvot which a person tramples with his heels. He claimed that the person must take all of God’s commands seriously and should be equally diligent in their observance. He stated emphatically that none of God’s commands can be seen as less significant!

Moses’ closing remarks are divided into two parts. In the first section Moses speaks of God’s loyalty evidenced in God’s constant care whereas the second part refers to the demands made on the people. His central theme is that of the Shema, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” (6:4-5)   Moses stressed that the act of listening is at the very heart of this relationship that is based on love.  Not only hearing is necessary but they are called to understand, to internalize and to respond. All that God has promised to the Israelites will come about if only they follow God’s voice and keep God’s commandments.

     It was only a small band of Israelites who were called to be God’s People. They were not chosen because they were strong, numerous, or superior to other nations. Nor did they have any particular merit; this was solely God’s choice. “God chose to give Israel the Torah in order that Israel might thereby become a moral exemplar among the nations – not because it was already one. Characterizing Israel as a people chosen by God is not an assertion of superiority, but a historical fact. It was through God’s using Israel as an instrument of divine revelation that the notion of ethical monotheism, the Decalogue, the prophets and the psalms all came into the world.” (Etz Hayim 1043)

      This covenant between God and Israel was an eternal covenant. No other people had ever been entrusted with such an invitation!  “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” (Dt 7:6)

For Reflection and Discussion: A.J. Heschel summed it up beautifully, “Whether it is the case of God blessing the people or of the people blessing God, only a blessing that flows from love deserves to be called a blessing.” (Etz Hayim 1037)

Bibliography:  Lieber, David L., Etz Hayim, (New York, NY, 1999)

This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
                               Rita Kammermayer, Canada, Bat Kol Alumna: 2001

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