Parasha Eikev
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — In this week’s Torah reading, Eikev, we are commanded to go in the ways of Hashem and to “cling to Him.” How are we to cling to what we just learned last week in Va’eschanan 4:24 is, figuratively, an “all-consuming fire”? The Sifri tells us we are to do so by clinging to and learning from Talmidei Chachamim, those wise, learned people who have vast Torah knowledge. It is a mitzvah to use our learning from Talmidei Chachamim, those who’ve spent many years refining themselves, the Mesilas Yesharim teaches us, particularly when it comes to our personal growth.
Learning with and from others far more learned than ourselves, according to Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zt”l, will prevent us from making inevitable mistakes since we are not relying on our own understanding of Torah. This applies to both men and women, according to the Sefer HaChinuch. While self-help books abound and are often quoted as source material for personal growth in contemporary times, look at the true source material and see that when it comes to life issues, the Torah covers exactly how we are to approach life’s challenges. Our Torah acknowledges real hardships-look at the words of Moshe retelling the words of the Ten Spies. But Eikev is telling us that Hashem is always with us, and as a result we can deal with any adversity. This is the real tool of self-help.
“But you must remember the Lord your God, for it is He that gives you strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant which He swore to your forefathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:180).
This “you must,” is a clear element in our conditional covenant with Hashem. Yes, conditional on our compliance and faithfulness. Loyalty to this covenant and to the observance of the mitzvot are themes of Parashat Eikev.
Are we aware and grateful, or do we live with an incorrect mindset believing that we are deserving, that it is coming to us, entitled? Being humble, not taking our prosperity for granted, isn’t easy for some. Those who claim they are humble are often by definition, the ones who are least humble. Particularly when life is good, this week’s Torah reading teaches us to remember our humble beginnings, who gives us our good life, and who helps us achieve what we have.
After eating a fine meal at a friend’s home, we go out of our way to thank the host, send a thank you note, sometimes even send a gift after the meal, if we haven’t brought one in advance. But how much time do we spend thanking the true Host? In Birkat HaMazon, we have an opportunity to bring this week’s teaching alive, “And you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land He has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10). If you believe Hashem plays a personal role in your life and you genuinely recognize that whatever you have, no matter how small, comes through His hand, you’re likely to be filled with Hakarat Hatov, recognizing the good, gratitude. But look at how we express our gratitude in bentsching. We race through it. Notice the difference when you are fortunate enough to be with others who wholly enjoy singing the entire Birkat HaMazon aloud from deep within? “You are the source of life for all that is and Your blessing flows through me.” And we rush through saying specifically, thank you? We learn that Hashem is blessed, merciful, the source of all things, and the king. How do we deeply express specific gratitude to Him? Or do we just express rote, general thanks?
Parashat Eikev teaches us from the beginning, with Moshe assuring B’nei Yisrael that in reward for their observance of the Torah’s laws, God would bless them with prosperity, health, children, and triumph over enemy nations. These rewards are promised “eikev tishme’un” – “because you will obey” God’s laws (or “because of your obeying”). In this regard, as we are preparing ourselves emotionally for the High Holy Days, we ponder a simple question: How do I become a better person? Perhaps the parasha helps us answer this question. We are taught to circumcise the foreskin from our heart, u’maltern et orlat l’vavchem, allowing us to partner with Hashem, to become closer to Him. We become better by avoiding those things and beliefs that distance ourselves from Him. Fear, anger, demands that life be different than it is, intimidation, and lack of gratitude are barriers we erect between ourselves and Him.
This verse particularly points to how to remove these barriers: “Everyman shall bring as much as he can afford according to the blessing of the Lord, your God, which He has given you. You shall set up judges and law enforcement officials for yourself in all your cities that the Lord, your God, is giving you, for your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice you shall not show favoritism, and you shall not take a bribe, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts just words.” Whew! Social justice, treating strangers with equality, providing for those in need…talk about circumcising our hearts and taking a step closer to Hashem and becoming a better person! And it’s right here in this week’s Torah reading.
In 2014, I wrote in a health publication that “gratitude is medicine.” “If you are deeply thankful: you count your blessings, notice the simple joys of daily life, acknowledge everything you have in positive ways and you are more likely to engage in healthier behaviors and take better care of yourself.” Sounded good. But the true source of this learning we learn in Pirke Avot 4:1, “Who is rich? Those who rejoice in their own portion.” Of course we can grouse about what we don’t have. But why not follow this teaching, and the lesson of the Hasidic teacher Rebbe Nachman of Breslov who writes, “Gratitude rejoices with her sister joy and is always ready to light a candle and have a party. Gratitude doesn’t much like the old cronies of boredom, despair and taking life for granted.” Seems these teachings are telling us that being humble, being grateful, helps us live healthier and with greater wellbeing.
This week’s parasha, with its attention to gratitude, comes at a suitable time, particularly with the flood of misinformation about the pandemic of COVID. We know the Hebrew word for blessing is bracha. But did you know that this word is anchored in the same root as the word for knee in Hebrew, berech? In other words, when you say a bracha, you are using your berech, your knee, to kneel in gratitude. While some bend their knee in opposition, we bend ours in recognition and gratitude to Hashem. Indeed, when Leah named her fourth son, Yehuda, meaning, “Now I will thank Hashem,” we became Yehudim, people who thank.
Are you a thankful person? Do you recognize His hand in your life on a moment-to-moment basis? Do you appreciate that every breath you take, the one you just took now reading these words, and now and now, these breaths, are in His hand? Thank someone for a delicious meal? How about for your breathing? And for your beating heart? And yes, even for the delicious meal, too? What are you most grateful for in your life? Who do you ultimately thank? Read this week’s parasha carefully, and you’ll see the answer to this question is clear. Baruch Hashem.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com