Parshas Eikev 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה ושמרתם ועשיתם אתם ... (ז-יב)
Countless commentaries expound on these words translated as: “And it will be if ‘Eikev’ you will listen.” What is the meaning of the word "עקב"? (See Targum, Rashi, Ramban, Baal HaTurim) "עקב" can mean the heel, as Rashi here explains.
This parsha coincides with the summer months. Perhaps we can therefore say the following machshava. The Torah promises that if you watch where you go "עקב" - with your feet, making sure you avoid places of nisyonos, then, "ושמר ה' ... את הברית" - Hashem will reward you with endless schar. The Bnei Yissaschar explains "עקב" as referring to the end of the year. Elul. The time for teshuva. The posuk is letting us know that Hashem will be pleased with us even if we awaken spiritually -"עקב" - at the heel, the end of the year, and we will be accepted into His loving embrace.
The Chiddushei HaRim says another pshat. Chazal tell us that the word והיה connotes happiness. אין והיה אלא לשון שמחה. He explains the posuk as follows: והיה - and Hashem will be so happy עקב תשמעון when, even in the times of עקבתא דמשיחא we follow and adhere to the Torah. There’s a mashal given by the Shomer Emunim. Picture a blazing conflagration. It’s not easily extinguished. A lit match, on the other hand, can be extinguished with but one small puff of air. But there is a time when that same lit match can accomplish. At night; when it’s dark outside. Even a powerful flashlight is useless during the day in the sun’s glare. However, in the dead of night, that small match can illuminate the entire area. Our golus is dark. Very dark. And our generation, due to נתקטנו הדורות is just a small flame compared to our predecessors. But since there’s so much darkness, the light of one small altruistic act; a pure and noble deed can illuminate the entire dark world, and help us be that famous “light unto the nations.” יה"ר that with our מצות, מעשים טובים, ולימוד התורה we can break out of the darkness and hasten the coming of Moshiach b’karov.