Eikev – Peninim on the Torah

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5783

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear. (10:12)

Horav Chaim Soloveitchik, zl, offers an outstanding insight into the enjoinment that one fear Hashem. Every moment of one’s life one must ask himself, “What does Hashem ask of me – now?” An hour later, he should ask himself again, “Now, what does Hashem ask of me?” This is the depth of the meaning of v’atah, now. Every moment of one’s life, throughout every circumstance, the question that he should ask is: “What does the Almighty want of me now? How should I act in this situation?” Fear of Hashem is a way of life. One does not simply punch…

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זכר אל תשכח את אשר הקצפת את ד' אלקיך במדבר ... ממרים הייתם עם ד'

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5783

Remember, do not forget that you provoked Hashem, your G-d, in the wilderness… You have been rebels against Hashem. (9:7)

Moshe Rabbeinu lists some of the indiscretions and unacceptable behavior of Klal Yisrael during their wilderness journey. They are enjoined to remember, to never lose sight of these infractions. Their past sinful behavior must be expunged from their characters, lest it return to haunt them later. The only way to prevent recurrent problems is to ingrain in one’s mind the past, their deficiencies, and how they acted. Remembering the sin of the Golden Calf is on top of the list of iniquitous behavior which led to open rebellion. Thus, it is included among the Sheish Zechiros, Six Remembrances, incumbent upon…

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כי על כל מוצא פי ד' יחיה ... וזכרת את ד' אלקיך כי הוא הנתן לך כח לעשות חיל

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5783

Rather by everything that emanates from the mouth of Hashem does man live… That it was He (Hashem) who gives you the strength to make wealth. (8:3,18)

The Torah reiterates numerous times (of which the above pesukim are a mere sample) that everything – large or small – comes from Hashem. Man endeavors, but Hashem decides the end result. The first step toward living with faith and trust in the Almighty is acknowledging that He is the only reality. Everything else is a façade. The department of education oversaw a county which had, among its schools, a private yeshivah high school. The superintendent had serious issues with the school’s general studies program, or lack thereof. In order to receive a federal subsidy, the school was required to…

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למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם על האדמה אשר נשבע ד' לאבתיכם לתת להם

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5782

In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that Hashem has sworn to your ancestors to give to them. (11:21)

A fascinating dialogue in the Talmud (Berachos 8A) should inspire our attitude toward the Bais Haknesses, shul, that we frequent. Rabbi Yochanan lived to an unusually advanced age. Rabbi Yochanan heard that elderly Jews lived in Bavel. This caused him to wonder, “It is written, ‘In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that Hashem has sworn to your ancestors to give to them.’ (This means Eretz Yisrael. In other words, the blessing of longevity is tied in with living in the Holy Land.)” Once they informed him, however, that the elders are…

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ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5782

And you shall teach them to your children (so that they will) discuss them. (11:19)

The above pasuk, which is included in the second parsha (paragraph) of Shema, appears to reiterate what was stated earlier (first paragraph): V’sheenantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam, “And you shall instruct your children about them and you shall discuss them” (Devarim 6:7). On the surface, the second pasuk does not seem to contain any supplement. Ramban explains that in the first pasuk (V’sheenantam l’vanecha), the focus is on v’dibarta; you shall speak. Your speech at home, in the presence of family, should be in Torah. In the second pasuk, the emphasis is on l’dabeir bam, they, the children shall speak to…

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ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5782

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

Chazal (Berachos 32B) derive from this pasuk (in which Hashem asks us to fear Him) that everything is in the hands of Heaven except the fear of Heaven. Everything in a person’s nature and circumstance in life — such as his height, complexion, financial success and his intelligence — are in Hashem’s hands. Whether or not one is G-d-fearing (and, by extension, all aspects of spiritual growth), however, is man’s decision. It is not forced upon him. Fear of Hashem is part of man’s free-will. The Talmud asks: Is fear of Heaven a small thing? They respond that, yes, for…

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שמלתך לא בלתה מעליך ורגלך לא בצקה זה ארבעים שנה

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5782

Your garment did not wear out upon you, and your feet did not swell – these forty years. (8:4)

We take so much for granted, either because we do not think or because we think that we are entitled. We could be in the midst of receiving an incredible act of generosity, a miracle of epic proportion, and allow it to just go over our heads as if it had never taken place. Moshe Rabbeinu reminds Klal Yisrael to look at their clothing. The mere fact that their clothing remained spotlessly clean and as new as the day when they had first received it is, in and of itself, an indicator of Hashem’s Presence within their camp. Furthermore, as…

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עשה משפט יתום ואלמנה

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5781

But upholds the cause of the orphan and the widow. (10:18)

The Torah teaches us that Hashem is concerned about the honor of the downtrodden, the widow and orphan, individuals who are alone with no one to care for them. The exhortation to preserve the honor of a widow applies even to a king’s widow. In his commentary to Bereishis 37, Rabbeinu Bachya quotes this from a Midrash. The reason for this stringency is that their spirits are low and their tears are frequent. Widows and orphans who are oppressed have no one to turn to other than Hashem – Who listens. Horav Ovadiah Yosef, zl, was very careful to safeguard…

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ויאמר ד'... ראיתי העם הזה והנה עם קשה ערף הוא

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5781

Hashem said… “I have seen this people, and behold! It is a stiff-necked people.” (9:13)

Stiff-necked, otherwise known as stubbornness, obstinacy, is usually incompatible with uprightness and righteousness, because a stubborn person makes up his mind and sticks to it – even if his conduct is less than desirable. He has made up his mind, and he will stick to his guns. Hashem informs Moshe that the nation’s stubbornness is not conducive to their spiritual growth. He will send an angel to lead them. Hashem wants no part of an obstinate people. If we look back to the original redaction of the sin in Parashas Ki Sisa (Shemos 34:9), however, Moshe beseeches Hashem, Yeileich na…

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כי לא על הלחם לבדו יחיה האדם... כי על כל מוצא פי ד' יחיה האדם

Sruly Schnair In Eikev, 5781

Man does not live on bread alone, but that man may live on anything that Hashem decrees. (8:3)

The forty years of wandering in the wilderness served as a course of instruction and training – instruction about Hashem’s Hashgachah, Providence, and training for serene and disciplined surrender to His guidance. When our lack of conviction in Hashem’s Omnipresent care and guidance over us diminishes, our practice, which fulfills the requirements of our moral and spiritual training, likewise wanes. For forty years we lived a lifestyle that impressed upon us the notion that, “It is not by bread alone that man make a life for himself.” We have been taught that the prime factor for man’s sustenance is the…

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ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה

Now, O’ Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear. (10:12)

זכר אל תשכח את אשר הקצפת את ד' אלקיך במדבר ... ממרים הייתם עם ד'

Remember, do not forget that you provoked Hashem, your G-d, in the wilderness… You have been rebels against Hashem. (9:7)

כי על כל מוצא פי ד' יחיה ... וזכרת את ד' אלקיך כי הוא הנתן לך כח לעשות חיל

Rather by everything that emanates from the mouth of Hashem does man live… That it was He (Hashem) who gives you the strength to make wealth. (8:3,18)

למען ירבו ימיכם וימי בניכם על האדמה אשר נשבע ד' לאבתיכם לתת להם

In order to prolong your days and the days of your children upon the ground that Hashem has sworn to your ancestors to give to them. (11:21)

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

And you shall teach them to your children (so that they will) discuss them. (11:19)

ועתה ישראל מה ד' אלקיך שאל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ד' אלקיך

Now, O Yisrael, what does Hashem, your G-d, ask of you? Only to fear Hashem, your G-d. (10:12)

שמלתך לא בלתה מעליך ורגלך לא בצקה זה ארבעים שנה

Your garment did not wear out upon you, and your feet did not swell – these forty years. (8:4)

עשה משפט יתום ואלמנה

But upholds the cause of the orphan and the widow. (10:18)

ויאמר ד'... ראיתי העם הזה והנה עם קשה ערף הוא

Hashem said… “I have seen this people, and behold! It is a stiff-necked people.” (9:13)

כי לא על הלחם לבדו יחיה האדם... כי על כל מוצא פי ד' יחיה האדם

Man does not live on bread alone, but that man may live on anything that Hashem decrees. (8:3)

YEARS

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