4 TORAH TIDBITS / EIKEV 5780

EIKEVPARSHAT EIKEV SHORT SUMMARY

Continuing with the central theme of the book of Devarim, Parshat Ekev contains Moshe’s teachings of inspiration and encouragement as he prepares the people for the ultimate goal - to build a nation in the Promised Land.

Bnei Yisrael are told of a land that is filled with abundant blessings. It will be necessary to eliminate every element of idolatry that is common in the pervasive culture and for the people of Israel be solely committed to one God.

One of the most beautiful features of their new homeland will be its natural beauty and delicious agriculture: “A Land of wheat, barely, grapes, fig, and promgranates; a Land of oil-olives and date-honey (Devarim 8:8).

However, Moshe says, it will be necessary for the members of our holy nation to

remain devoted to the ways of God and in order to be the beneficiaries of these blessings. The people should also always remember that the inheritance of the Land of Israel is a fulfilment of the promise given to Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov.

The inspiring and elevated themes of “walking with Hashem” and “cleaving to Hashem’’ are found in the parsha’s concluding aliyah

Moshe hearkens back to earlier times in the wilderness when the Jewish people were guilty of a host of egregious sins against the Almighty. The most serious, of course, was the dreadful sin of the ‘golden calf’. Moshe chooses to remind them of this in order to caution them not to take their responsibility lighty.

On a more optimistic note Moshe charges the nation of Israel to wholeheartedly serve Hashem: “You shall love Hashem, your God, and you shall safeguard his

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charge.” (Devarim 11:1). He exhorts the people to live by the commandments. After all, they were privy to actually see the wonders and miracles in Egypt. “Rather it is your own eyes that see all the great work of Hashem, which He did.” (Devarim 11:7)

The sixth aliyah is one highlight from our parsha this week. We are very familiar with the fact that the Sages adopt a section of chapter eleven as the second paragraph of Kriat Sh’ema. In it we are reminded that blessings of rain and abundance will be the direct result of our commitment to the Torah and performance of mitzvot. The mitzvot of tefillin, mezuzah and teaching Torah to our children are given prominence in these passages.

The inspiring and elevated themes of “walking with Hashem” and “cleaving to Hashem’’ are found in the parsha’s concluding aliyah. In this context, Moshe coverys a critical message. Namely, the promise that if the Jewish nation observes all the commandments they will easily occupy the Land of Israel and no other nation will be able to stand up against the Chosen people in their land.