Archive for the ‘ Ekev ’ Category
Moshe describes a terrible scene that took place at Mt. Sinai. He relates how he came down from the mountain carrying the two tablets with the words of Hashem engraved on them and he saw how the people had created an idol and were worshipping it. His reaction was of horror and he shattered the [ READ MORE ]
Moshe in his address to the people before his demise continues to recount what happened during their journeys. In describing their situation he says about Hashem: VAYE’ANCHA VAYARIVECHA VAYA’ACHILCHA ET HAMMAN, “He afflicted you and let you hunger and he fed you the manna…”. (Deut. 8,3) This seems to be a contradiction in itself. If [ READ MORE ]
In the first paragraph of the Shema which we read last week we are charged to love Hashem: BECHOL LEVAVCHA UVECHOL NAFSHECHA UVECHOL ME’ODECHA, “with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might”. In the second paragraph of the Shema, which is extracted from this week’s Torah Portion, we read a [ READ MORE ]
Moshe continues his talk to the people in the Wilderness before they enter into the Promised Land. He tells them that Hashem asks them only to follow His Mitzvot and to adhere to His teachings. Then he adds a phrase that seems superfluous. In describing Hashem he says to them: ASHER LO YISA PANIM VELO [ READ MORE ]
In his talk to Bnei Yisrael Moshe says that Hashem is bringing them to a land in which LO TECHSAR KOL BO, “a land in which you will be lacking nothing”. (Deut. 8:9) The Talmud emphasizes it even more by saying that this teaches that Israelis a land in which nothing is missing. (Ber. 36a) [ READ MORE ]
The Parsha starts by saying VEHAYA EKEV TISME’UN, “and it will be as a reward for your listening…” (Deut. 7:12) he word EKEV in this context means reward. The word, however, also means heal. Rashi notes a reason for the connection. He says that the reward will come for observing those Mitzvot that a person [ READ MORE ]
The Torah says: KOL HAMITZVAH ASHER ANOCHI METZAVCHA HAYOM, “Every commandment which I command you this day …” (Deut. 8,1) By right, the Torah should have said: KOL HAMITZVOT, in the plural, which would have meant “every commandment”. KOL HAMITZVAH, in the singular, means “the entire Mitzvah”.Rashi takes note of this and says: KIFSHUTO which [ READ MORE ]
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