Eikev – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

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

The word “eikav,” when or because, also means heel. Thus, Rashi interprets the phrase to mean: when you listen to those mitzvos that appear to be of lesser significance, commandments which a person might tread upon with his heel. In Pirkei Avos, 2:1, Rebbi says, “Be as scrupulous in performing a minor mitzvah as a major one, for you do not know the rewards given for mitzvos.” Can we view any mitzvah to be minor? Yes, if we view mitzvos to be a confirmation of ceremonies and rituals. When we realize that each mitzvah is one component in a vast…

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Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5758

He afflicted you and let you hunger, then he fed you the manna that you did not know, nor did your forefathers know. (8:3)

Moshe recounts the trials and tribulations of Klal Yisrael’s sojourn in the desert, as well as the effects it produced. Hashem had tested them, but it was for a specific purpose. As the Ramban explains, at times a father must chastize his son in order to prepare him for the future. It was better to endure the hardships of the wilderness, so that they would more freely appreciate the riches and the beauty of Eretz Yisrael. The commentators address the “affliction” and “hunger” which Moshe mentions. Moshe is referring to the Heavenly food, the manna, which Chazal in the…

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Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5758

At that time Hashem said to me: Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first…and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets…and I placed the tablets in the Aron which I had made. (10:1,2,5)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl., makes note of the fact that when the Torah discusses the Luchos, tablets, it mentions the material, avanim, stone, of which they were composed. This teaches us that the words of the law are engraved in stone. They are unalterable and absolute as stone. This lesson is especially significant in contemporary times when there are those who would raise their quill against the Torah, attempting to “modify” its laws to suit their own purposes. In the past, this practice has been the exclusive domain of the non-practicing Jew. Today, however, this malady has spread even to…

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Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5758

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

The Torah repeats the mitzvah of Ahavas Ha’Ger, loving the convert, no less than thirty-six times! One would assume that the Torah would reiterate mitzvos such as Shabbos, the prohibitions against idol worship and murder, emphasizing their obvious importance. Indeed, the Torah does not repeat these critical mitzvos. The Torah is very careful with its words; every word has its own specific message. Yet, the Torah has no qualms about reminding us numerous times of our obligation to the ger. Why? We can derive a profound lesson from this pasuk regarding human nature. Man’s natural instinct is to denigrate those…

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Moshe Marcovich In Eikev, 5758

And you shall teach them to your sons. (11:19)

Regarding the word “v’nitzaltem” “and you will empty out (Egypt)“, in Sefer Shemos (3:22), Rashi comments that the word “v’limadtem,” “and you will teach them“, which appears in our pasuk, is the piel form, intensive conjugation, of the word “lilmod,” to learn. Actually, the word that should be used to describe “teaching” should be the ‘hiphil,” causative form, of the verb. Hence, the Torah should have said, le’halmid, to make someone learn. This would be similar to the word, l’halbish, to dress someone. What is the reason for this change in the conjugation of the word? Horav Yosef Berl, zl,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5757

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

Fear of G-d is essential. A person is able to acknowledge Hashem and freely submit to His will only when he truly fears Him. One naturally succumbs to the yetzer hora, evil inclination. Through our yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, however, we are able to overcome the blandishments of the yetzer hora. The Chofetz Chaim placed emphasis on the word “viata” “now”. A person should go through life inquiring, “What does Hashem ask of me – now? Not tomorrow, not yesterday, but right now! When we keep the idea of current obligation in our mind, Judaism becomes alive. Our whole…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5757

To love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (11:13)

Rashi comments that “serving with the heart” is a reference to tefillah, prayer. Yet, there is a dispute among the Rishonim if daily prayer is min ha’Torah, a Biblical command, or m’dRabbanan, a Rabbinnical decree. While granting that the number of prayers, their text and content reflect Rabbinic input, the Rambam asserts that the origin of prayer is Biblical. Ramban contends the concept of prayer, excluding prayers of distress, is Rabbinic in origin. Indeed, since prayer is avodah she’blev, service of the heart, the expression of human feelings and emotions should be man’s creation. Hence, Chazal composed the various…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5757

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

Rashi comments that Chazal have inferred from this pasuk that when a child begins to talk, his father should converse with him in lashon hakodesh, Hebrew, and should begin to teach him Torah. If he does not teach him Torah, it is viewed as if he had ______ buried him. This is implied by the juxtaposition to the next pasuk, in which the Torah states, “In order to prolong your days and the days of your children.” The mitzvah of limud haTorah takes on a new perspective when it applies to a father’s obligation to educate his children. A father…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5756

“This shall be your reward when you listen to these ordinances.” (7:12)

Rashi explains that according to the Midrash, the word ceg also means “heel.” The Torah, therefore, alludes to those mitzvos which people may regard as unimportant. This disregard for the body of mitzvos that people determine to be relatively unimportant, extends to the point that they tend to tread upon the discarded mitzvos with their heels. The Torah promises Klal Yisrael that if they maintain their devotion to all of the mitzvos, even those which have been neglected due to their apparent insignificance, Hashem will reward them. What is the meaning of “treading upon mitzvos“? Horav Moshe Swift, zl, remarks…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Eikev, 5756

“It is not by bread alone that man can make a life for himself, but that man can live by everything that comes from the mouth of Hashem.” (8:3)

This pasuk underscores the significance of acknowledging the source of man’s sustenance. The word ojk actually has a dual meaning. It can mean “bread” or to “wage war”. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, declares that “bread” is the nourishment that man wrests from nature, competing with his fellow man for the “piece of bread.” “Bread” represents the joint product of nature and man’s intelligence, indicating man’s mastery over the mundane world. Consequently, “bread” is the physical manifestation of the intelligence with which man creates his own sustenance as he interacts with his fellow man to “harness” nature. The tragedy of man…

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

He afflicted you and let you hunger, then he fed you the manna that you did not know, nor did your forefathers know. (8:3)

At that time Hashem said to me: Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first…and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets…and I placed the tablets in the Aron which I had made. (10:1,2,5)

And Hashem loves the ger/convert to give him bread and garment…you shall love the ger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (10:18,19)

And you shall teach them to your sons. (11:19)

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

To love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (11:13)

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

“This shall be your reward when you listen to these ordinances.” (7:12)

“It is not by bread alone that man can make a life for himself, but that man can live by everything that comes from the mouth of Hashem.” (8:3)

YEARS

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