Parshat Eikev: The State of Israel and Us

Leave a comment

What makes the land of Israel unique? Parshat Eikev offers key insights into the distinctive blessings and challenges that characterize the promised land, then and now.

As Moshe prepares the people for their entry into the land, the significance of Eretz Yisrael, and our relationship with it, is emphasized through several literary allusions. The parsha mentions three times that this is the land which “the Lord brings you to…” instilling a sense of faith and humility. Each of these references is followed by a caution: Do not take the land’s bounty for granted, do not forget God’s goodness, and do not assimilate into surrounding cultures. Additionally, Rabbenu Bahya notes that in Devarim 8, the phrase “the land” appears seven times within four consecutive verses. Israel is a place where the Jewish people can achieve the greatest blessings and accomplishments, but these gifts are not guaranteed—they depend on our actions and faithfulness.

The uniqueness of Eretz Yisrael is further described in Devarim 11:10: “For the land that you are about to enter and possess is not like the land of Egypt…”  In Egypt, says Rashi, the land was irrigated by water from the Nile. Israel is superior in that it “soaks up its water from the heavens,” emphasizing that blessings in Israel are bestowed by God, rather than solely through human effort. The Ramban however, disagrees and argues that Israel is more vulnerable than Egypt because its water supply is directly controlled by God, making it dependent on the people’s moral behavior and spiritual state.

Israel’s uniqueness lies in its inseparable bond with the Jewish nation dwelling within it. Then and now, Israel’s flourishing (agriculturally and in other pursuits), remains intertwined with us, its caretakers. May we not lose sight of our appreciation of the land and may God bless us with rains of security and goodness. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson

Parshat Eikev: On Partial Observance

3 Comments

In Parshat Eikev Moshe continues his final speech to Bnei Yisrael. The language he uses provides a springboard for discussing how to relate to varying levels of commitment to Torah within our homes and communities.

Moshe teaches the reward for observing mitzvot: They will thrive, increase and possess the land of Israel. “All the commandment (כׇּל־הַמִּצְוָ֗ה) that I enjoin upon you today, you shall faithfully observe them (תִּשְׁמְר֣וּן לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת)…” First the verse refers to keeping “kol hamitzvah” which appears to be in the singular and then refers to keeping all mitzvot in the plural “tishmerun.” Moreover, the meaning of the word “kol” is unclear.

Rashi, in his usual style, first comments that “kol hamitzvah” should be understood literally, as meaning “all mitzvot,” even though the word mitzvah is singular. Yet, unsatisfied with this logical interpretation, Rashi cites the midrash Tanhuma which teaches a lesson in keeping mitzvot: If you begin a mitzvah, finish it! The word “kol” is understood as “the entirety of the mitzvah,” or “the completion of the mitzvah.” If several people take part in a mitzvah, it is the one who completes it who gets the credit. When Moshe took Yosef’s bones out of Egypt, it was Bnei Yisrael who got credit for burying them in Israel since they completed the mitzvah.

Still, the midrash recognizes that Moshe’s partial completion of a mitzvah was important, even if it is not complete fulfillment. Similarly, Rabbi Yochanan is cited in the Talmud as saying that one who learns only one statute (chok) is rewarded with a share in the World-to-Come. The Kli Yakar on our pasuk states similarly that partial completeness also works at a communal level: the transition from singular to plural in the verse implies that when an individual keeps mitzvot, there is benefit and reward for the wider community.

Perhaps Moshe understood that while completeness is the ideal, recognizing the value of partial observance encourages people to grow and take part in the Jewish community. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson