B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 18, 5778 / July 30, 2018

In this week’s Parsha, Eikev, Moshe, before his passing, prepares the Jewish people for their entry into Israel.

For forty years, during their stay in the desert, the Jewish people got everything they needed from G-d. Manna descended from heaven; water came from a rock which traveled with them wherever they went in the desert. Even their clothing grew with them and kept clean by the clouds of glory.

But, now they were about to go into the Promised Land, where they would have to labor for their sustenance.  They would have to put in effort to work the fields for food and water the crops.  Their material well being will from now on be dependant on their physical, hard labor.

Moshe prepares them spiritually. He reminds them that the very principle of the manna from heaven will still apply, even when they will have to physically work for their livelihood.

Moshe tells them that the reason G-d gave them the manna from heaven for forty years was, “To let you know that man does not live by bread alone, but rather, by the word of G-d does man live.”

Moshe continues, "When you eat and are satisfied, when you build good houses and dwell in them, when your herds and flock multiply, when your gold and silver is multiplied and when all which you have will multiply...  You may say in your heart: 'My power and the might of my hand made me this wealth.'  Remember the L-rd your G-d for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth."

During the 40 years in the desert, the manna they ate and the water they drank were a daily reminder that their survival depended entirely on G-d.  But from now on they will need a special reminder.  From here on these miracles would stop and instead, G-d's blessings would come through the laws of nature. 

As a result, they may mistakenly take credit for their success.  Therefore, Moshe tells them to always remember that in reality it is only G-d Who deserves the credit, just as with the manna.

This message is very important today with the tremendous advance of technology.  We take too many things in life for granted, without stopping to think how fortunate we are and give credit where credit is due – to G-d, for as the Torah says, “For it is He that gives you the power to get wealth.”

This is why there is a wonderful Jewish custom when someone asks, “How are you?” to always answer, "Baruch HaShem" - "Blessed is G-d." Giving thanks and credit to G-d for all we have. It is also very important to teach our children to say, “Baruch Hashem.” Realizing that what we have is a gift from Hashem, makes everything we have much more purposeful and meaningful.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY