Eikev – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה

This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances. (7:12)

In this instance, the word mishpatim, statutes, is a general term to describe the various divisions of the mitzvos – eidus, chukim and Mishpatim – under one title. All mitzvos, whether they commemorate an historic religious event, a legal obligation to a fellow Jew, a form of Heavenly service, or a mitzvah which defies human comprehension, are all included in the category of mishpatim, legal maxims. As such, it is our duty to execute them simply because it is Hashem’s command; it is our duty – with no thanks or reward to be claimed. Yet, by doing all of these,…

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לא יהיה בך עקר ועקרה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5774

There will be no infertile male or infertile female among you. (7:14)

We, as human beings, will not be plagued with infertility. The pasuk continues on with a similar blessing for our sheep and cattle. The Baal HaTurim makes note of an incredible gimatria, numerical equivalent, that corresponds with the pasuk, Lo yiheyeh becha akar va’akara, which amounts to 834. Likewise, the words b’divrei haTorah, “in the words of the Torah,” also amount to 834. This implies a connection between Torah study and fertility, which is explained by Horav Shlomo Levenstein, Shlita, as a demand for a person to be mechadesh chiddushim, innovate original commentary and elucidation, to apply creativity to one’s…

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ומלתם את ערלת לבבכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5774

You shall cut away the barrier of your heart. (10:16)

Metaphorically, the heart represents the seat of a human being’s passion and emotion. When one loses his moral compass and begins to fall prey to his base desires, this moral weakness is described figuratively as a dulled heart, ensconced in a layer of dross which prevents it from connecting spiritually. In other words, the person’s ability to perceive and be inspired spiritually is hampered by this encumbrance. The only way to resuscitate the heart spiritually is to “cut away” the layer that dulls the person’s spiritual impulses, preventing him from growing in the manner of becoming a Torah Jew. What…

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Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“Your clothes did not wax old upon you, neither did your foot swell these forty years… So I turned and came down from the mountain … and two luchos (were) on my two hands… and I looked and behold you had sinned against Hashem your G-d… and I took hold of the two luchos and cast them out of my two hands… At that time, Hashem said unto me, ‘hew for you two luchos of stone… and make for you an ark of wood’… and (I) went up the mountain having the two luchos in my hands.” (8:4, 9:15-17, 10:1,3)

It is human nature to speak about things we can and should do. On the other hand, sometimes we must also be aware of those things we think we can not accomplish, but we must try to do. In the beginning of this parsha, Moshe relates Klal Yisrael’s forty year sojourn in the desert until the moment when they stand ready to enter Eretz Yisrael. Indeed, as noted in the pesukim, the desert experience was more like paradise. Bnei Yisrael received water from stones and food from Heaven. Their clothes were always wearable, and their feet were never swollen. Their…

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Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“And at Taveirah and at Masah and at Kivros Ha’Taavah you made Hashem angry.” (9:22)

In Pirkei Avos 5 Chazal enumerate the ten trials with which Bnei Yisrael “tested” Hashem in the desert. It is interesting to note that Moshe interrupted his admonishment of Bnei Yisrael concerning the Golden Calf in order to mention the above sins as well as to mention the sins of the meraglim, spies. Why specifically does he mention these four sins? Horav Zalmen Sorotzkin z.l. asserts that this interruption is deliberate. Its purpose is to dispute the notion that Bnei Yisrael sinned with the Golden Calf as a result of their panic at the temporary absence of Moshe, their leader. …

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Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“And (therefore) you shall place these My words on (in) your hearts and on (in) your soul.” (11:18)

Rashi states that the mitzvos of tefillin and mezuzah are distinct from others in that Bnei Yisrael are expected to continue to practice them even in exile. Thus, when they return to Eretz Yisrael, tefillin and mezuzah would not seem to be new/foreign mitzvos. The Vilna Gaon questions Rashi’s statement from the Talmud Kidushin 3b, which states that any mitzvah whose observance is limited specifically to the land (Eretz Yisrael) is not applicable to chutz la’aretz, countries outside of Eretz Yisrael. Those mitzvos which are not bound to the land, however, are applicable in Eretz Yisrael, as well as outside…

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Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5754

“To love Hashem your G-d, to walk in His ways, and to cleave/cling unto Him.” (22:11)

Chazal explain the concept of walking in Hashem’s ways as following in “His footsteps.” This means to emulate Hashem. Just as He is merciful, so should we be merciful. Just as He is charitable so should we be charitable. Emulating Hashem should be the governing factor in our performance of mitzvos. Horav Yaakov Neiman z.l. asserts that to perform a mitzvah for Hashem while simultaneously hurting a fellow Jew even indirectly is wrong and diametrically opposed to Hashem’s intention concerning mitzvah performance. We must remember our responsibility to reflect Hashem’s traits of mercy and caring. In Parashas Va’eschanan 4:9, the…

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ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ד' אלקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

You will eat and you will be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

This is the commandment that enjoins us to recite Bircas Hamazon, Grace after meals, Bentch. Moshe Rabbeinu initiated the blessing of Hazan es hakol kulo b’tuvo, “Who nourishes the entire world, in His goodness,” following the descent of the manna to sustain the nation. Horav Moshe Tzvi Nariyah, zl, observes that in no other instance does a person become so absorbed with his ani, himself, with his existence and personal pleasure, as when he is engaged in eating. Food/eating can have a compelling and almost vulgar effect on a person, often catalyzing his base instincts. Therefore, claims Rav Nariyah, the…

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וזכרת את ד' אלקיך כי הוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d: that it was He who gave you strength the make wealth. (8:18)

How easy it is to believe in ourselves – to think that our power is the result of our own strength; our battle skills, the result of our being formidable warriors. Hashem wants us to dispel this notion, by remembering that whatever success we enjoy is only because He gives us the means. In his Ben Ish Chai, Horav Yosef Chaim, zl, m’Bagdad, observes that whenever it is demanded of a person to remember, it is because it is concerning a subject that he is prone to forget. Indeed, there are six places in which the Torah enjoins us to…

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ואתפוש בשני הלוחות מעל שתי ידי ואשברם לעיניכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5773

I took hold of both of the Tablets, and I cast them from my hands, and I broke them before your eyes. (9:17)

A powerful lesson can be derived from this pasuk, which describes Moshe Rabbeinu’s act of shattering of the Luchos not simply as a negative act or an act of weakness, but rather, as a forceful, compelling, even positive act. Horav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zl, comments that, were it not for the Torah’s unembellished description, one might harbor the thought that Moshe was so overcome with shock in seeing the Golden Calf that he dropped the Luchos. Perhaps another scenario would be that they were too heavy. Moshe’s strength came from the People. Their merit infused him. Once they fell off their…

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והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה

This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances. (7:12)

לא יהיה בך עקר ועקרה

There will be no infertile male or infertile female among you. (7:14)

ומלתם את ערלת לבבכם

You shall cut away the barrier of your heart. (10:16)

“And at Taveirah and at Masah and at Kivros Ha’Taavah you made Hashem angry.” (9:22)

“And (therefore) you shall place these My words on (in) your hearts and on (in) your soul.” (11:18)

“To love Hashem your G-d, to walk in His ways, and to cleave/cling unto Him.” (22:11)

ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את ד' אלקיך על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך

You will eat and you will be satisfied, and bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good Land that He gave you. (8:10)

וזכרת את ד' אלקיך כי הוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל

Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d: that it was He who gave you strength the make wealth. (8:18)

ואתפוש בשני הלוחות מעל שתי ידי ואשברם לעיניכם

I took hold of both of the Tablets, and I cast them from my hands, and I broke them before your eyes. (9:17)

YEARS

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