Eikev – Peninim on the Torah

ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

You shall teach your children to discuss them. (11:19)

The Sifri underscores the words, l’dabeir bam, “to discuss them.” From the moment that one’s child is able to speak, his father should teach him, Torah tzivah lanu Moshe morashah kehillas Yaakov, “The Torah which Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.” A child’s first words should be Torah. His speech should be Torah-oriented. He learns this from his father. How? It should be the manner in which his father speaks. Aviv melamdo, “His father teaches him,” says Sifri. How does a father teach a young child who has just begun to speak? He does this…

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

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

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

The Pele Yoeitz explains Hashem’s request pragmatically. “You watch my field, and I will watch yours,” or, in modern day parlance, “You have my back, and I will have yours.” Yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, is something that Hashem expects us to achieve on our own. Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except for fear of Heaven. Bread, sustenance, is Heaven-sent. The Almighty intimates that we will make a trade: You will have yiraas Shomayim; I will owe you, and My payback will be sustenance. The Noda B’Yehudah questions the pasuk’s choice of wording. First, what is the meaning…

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וזכרת את כל הדרך אשר הוליכך ד' אלקיך זה ארבעים שנה במדבר

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

You shall remember the entire road on which Hashem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the wilderness. (8:2)

The Mesillas Yesharim (Perek 1) writes: “For all the circumstances of this world, whether favorable or adverse, are in reality tests for a person to overcome.” Poverty and wealth are both challenges; likewise, tranquility and suffering are tests “provided” by Hashem for the purpose of giving the person the opportunity to garner reward once he successfully emerges triumphant. Life is a test, an opportunity to excel. The very awareness that what confronts us at every turn is nothing more than a test makes the encounter bearable – and surmountable. The Torah enjoins us to remember the travail and difficulty that…

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פן תרבה עליך חית השדה

Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5778

Lest the beasts of the field increase against you. (7:22)

Rashi comments that Moshe Rabbeinu was well aware that a Jew’s righteousness protects him from wild beasts. One who is close with Hashem has nothing to fear from wild animals. Moshe was also very much aware that, realistically, the Jews would eventually fall short of this sublime level of virtue. The Talmud (Shabbos 151b) states that a wild beast has no jurisdiction over (cannot harm) a person until that individual appears (to the wild beast) to be just another animal. (When a person taints his Tzelem Elokim, Divine Image, due to a lack of righteousness, then the wild beast sees…

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ולמדתם אתם את בניכם לדבר בם

You shall teach your children to 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)

וזכרת את כל הדרך אשר הוליכך ד' אלקיך זה ארבעים שנה במדבר

You shall remember the entire road on which Hashem, your G-d, led you these forty years in the wilderness. (8:2)

פן תרבה עליך חית השדה

Lest the beasts of the field increase against you. (7:22)

YEARS

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